Andrea Kiewitt, BSc, MSc, Dipl.-Biol.

Research Scientist, Centre for Human and Ecological Sciences

Andrea studied Biology at Freie Universität in Berlin, Germany, from where she graduated with a first class degree in 1993. For the following year she obtained a grant from the European research mobility and exchange programme ERASMUS which enabled her to spend a year at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales at Swansea.

After returning to Berlin, Andrea was offered a position as research assistant at the Institute of Applied Zoology and Chemical Ecology, Freie Universität Berlin, where she investigated the chemical composition of the genus Tanacetum (Asteraceae). Following that, she took up the post of tutor at the university, organising and teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses at degree level. During that time she specialised in Chemical Ecology, Botany and Entomology, with research focussed on plant-insect-interactions. In 1999, she was awarded an MSc in Ecology for her work on induced plant responses to insect herbivore damage.

Andrea came back to Britain in 2000 and worked for the North York Moors National Park Authority in environmental education, teaching a variety of field courses.

In 2001, Andrea joined Forest Research as a research scientist to work on the Lowland Native Woodlands Programme. She was awarded the Post-Experience Certificate in Biological Recording and Species Identification from the University of Birmingham in 2004 for her expertise in species identification and surveying. Andrea is also involved in teaching specialist plant identification courses with the Field Studies Council.

Current role

Research Scientist, Centre for Human and Ecological Sciences

• Responsibilities for setup, maintenance and managment of field experiments and laboratory assessments for research projects on native woodlands in lowland Britain
• Fieldwork including ground vegetation surveys, woodland plant identification, tree seedling assessments, hemispherical canopy photography, digitisation of understorey canopy architecture, and soil sampling
• Laboratory assessments including microscopy, extraction and analysis of seeds, and leaf area measurements.

Current programmes

Lowland Native Woodlands

Soil sustainability - BioSoil project - biodiversity component
Project manager

Affiliations and achievements

• Editor of Ecotype – The Biodiversity and Conservation Newsletter of the Centre for Human and Ecological Sciences (formerly Ecology Division) at Forest Research
• British Ecological Society and Forest Ecology Specialist Group
• Associated specialist tutor with the Field Studies Council.

Research areas

• Woodland restoration - Plantations of Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) to site-native woodland
• Natural regeneration of native broadleaved trees
• Competition between tree seedlings and the ground flora
• The role of bramble (Rubus fruticosus L. aggr.) as a forest weed in relation to woodland management
• Restoration processes and functioning communities in forest ecosystems
• Ground vegetation biodiversity in relation to forest management.

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Main recent publications

Harmer, R., Kiewitt, A., Morgan, G. and Gill, R. (2010)  Does the development of bramble (Rubus fruticosus L. agg.) facilitate the growth and establishment of tree seedlings in woodlands by reducing deer browsing damage?  Forestry, doi:10.1093/forestry/cpp032.

Barsoum, N., Williams, D., Straw, N., Jukes, M., Johnson, R., Bidartondo, M., Kiewitt, A. and Ibrahim, R. (2009). Consequences of increased stand structural complexity for ground vegetation diversity and insect pests in Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) stands. Poster, BES British Ecological Society Woodland Monitoring workshop, Cambridge.

Kiewitt, A., Harmer, R., Morgan, G. and Gill, R. (2009). Does the formation of bramble patches (Rubus fruticosus L. agg.) facilitate the establishment of tree seedlings in woodlands by discouraging deer browsing? Poster, BES British Ecological Society Annual Meeting.

Kiewitt, A. and Vanguelova, E. (2008). Surveying forest soils and biodiversity – the pan-European BioSoil project ^(PDF-654K). Ecotype 40: 6.

Harmer, R. and Kiewitt, A. (2007). Restoration of PAWS - testing some of the advice. Quaterly Journal of Forestry, 101, 213-218.

Harmer, R. and Kiewitt, A. (2006). Restoration of conifer PAWS ^(PDF-1299K). Forest Research Annual Report and Accounts 2005-2006, pp. 24-29. The Stationary Office, Edinburgh.

Kiewitt, A. (2006). Research on bramble in woodlands ^(PDF-564K). Ecotype 33: 5-6.

Kiewitt, A. (1999). Ursachen und Konsequenzen fraßinduzierter Veränderungen des Stumpfblättrigen Ampfers (Rumex obtusifolius L., Polygonaceae) für den Ampferblattkäfer Gastrophysa viridula DEG. (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). [Causes and consequences of induced changes within broadleaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius L., Polygonacea) by herbivory of the dock leaf beetle Gastrophysa viridula DEG. (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)]. Diplomarbeit [Dissertation], Freie Universität Berlin.

Contributions to conferences, workshops etc.

Kiewitt, A., Harmer, R., Morgan, G. and Gill, R. (2009). Does the formation of bramble patches (Rubus fruticosus L. agg.) facilitate the establishment of tree seedlings in woodlands by discouraging deer browsing? Oral paper, BES British Ecological Society Annual Meeting.

Harmer, R., Kiewitt, A., Morgan, G. and Gill, R. (2008). Influence of vegetation on browsing of tree seedlings. Impacts of large herbivores on vegetation changes conference, Denmark.

Kiewitt, A. (2007). Research on PAWS restoration. High Weald field meeting on PAWS restoration.

Kiewitt, A. (2006). PAWS Restoration experiments – Studies into the silviculture and ecology of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites. Presentation at the Hampshire Woodland Forum, Micheldever.

Kiewitt, A. (2006). Battling with bramble – Experiments on its growth, flowering and fruiting in woodlands. Presentation at the conference ‘Bramble in woodland – bane or benefit?’, organised by Forest Research on behalf of the BES British Ecological Society Forest Ecology Group at Westonbirt National Arboretum. Proceedings ^(PDF-21K).

Kiewitt, A. and Harmer, R. (2005). The influence of overstorey cover on flowering and fruiting of bramble. Oral paper at the BES British Ecological Society Annual Meeting at the University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield. Abstract.

Kiewitt, A. and Harmer, R. (2005). Restoration of ash woodland at Wakehurst Place: an experiment in co-operation with Forest Research. Presentation at the Consultative Panel meeting at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Wakehurst Place.

Kiewitt, A. and Harmer, R. (2002). Is careful thinning an answer to the bramble problem during natural regeneration of woodlands? Oral paper at the BES British Ecological Society Annual Meeting at the University of York.

Harmer, R., Kiewitt, A. and Thompson, R. (2002). Forestry Commission research on PAWS. Proceedings of the conference on Restoring planted ancient woodland sites (ed. Richard Smithers), organised by the British Ecological Society Forest Ecology Group and the Woodland Trust at the University of Warwick.