Dr Lucy Sheppard

Plant Ecologist

Current work

My work focuses around a long-term nitrogen manipulation experiment, involving a free air release of ammonia and additions of oxidised and reduced nitrogen in rainwater, which I am responsible for. I have been following above and below-ground responses in an ombrotrophic bog ecosystem at Whim in the Scottish Borders. This has included looking at carbon and nitrogen fluxes and budgets, greenhouse gas emissions, changes in species composition and chemistry and interactions with biotic and abiotic stresses. This research informs me to advise on conservation and policy issues concerning nitrogen impacts on ecosystems, feeding into processes involved in the setting of Critical Loads and Levels.

I have previously worked on field experiments manipulating the chemical composition of wet deposition on to the canopies of conifer forests and looking at underpinning mechanisms using open-top chambers. I have been particularly involved in understanding the frost hardiness responses of a range of tree species, including exotics and Calluna.

I am secretary to CAPER, the Committee on Air Pollution Effects Research, and organise the annual meeting which provides a forum for the dissemination of the most recent effects research, and interaction between researchers, regulators conservation bodies and policy.

Research interests

Brief CV

• 2002 to current principal investigator for N form manipulation experiment on Whim bog.
• 1995-2002 joint investigator on field canopy acid mist response experiment on a Sitka spruce forest.
• 1986-1995 research on responses of tree seedlings to a variety of pollutants and elevated CO2.
• 1980-1995 research on nutrition, stress, short rotation coppice and tree growth.

Selected publications

See also the NERC Open Research Archive.

Sheppard, L.J., Leith, I.D., Crossley, A.van Dijk, N., Fowler, D., Sutton, M.A., Woods, C. (2008) Stress responses of Calluna vulgaris to reduced and oxidised N applied under "real world conditions". Environmental Pollution 154, 404-413.

Sheppard, L.J., Crossley, A., Ingleby, K and Woods C. (2008) Implications of acidified S inputs on the fate and consequences of N deposition: results from a field manipulation of a Sitka spruce canopy in Southern Scotland. International Journal of Environmental Studies 65 409-430.

Cape, J. Neil; van der Eerden, Ludger J.; Sheppard, Lucy J.; Leith, Ian D.; Sutton, Mark A. (2009) Reassessment of critical levels for atmospheric ammonia. In: Sutton, Mark A.; Reis, Stefan; Baker, Samantha M.H., (eds.) Atmospheric Ammonia: Detecting emission changes and environmental impacts. Results of an Expert Workshop under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. Springer, 15-40.

Sheppard, Lucy J.; Leith, Ian D.; Crossley, Alan; van Dijk, Netty; Cape, J. Neil; Fowler, David; Sutton, Mark A. (2009) Long-term cumulative exposure exacerbates the effects of atmospheric ammonia on an ombrotrophic bog: implications for critical levels. In: Sutton, Mark A.; Reis, Stefan; Baker, Samantha M.H., (eds.) Atmospheric Ammonia: Detecting emission changes and environmental impacts. Results of an Expert Workshop under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. Springer, 49-58.

Cape, J.N., van der Eerden, L.J., Sheppard, L.J., Leith, I.D & Sutton, M.A. (2009) Evidence for changing the critical level for ammonia. Environmental Pollution 157: 1033-1037.

Cape, J.N., Jones, M.R., Leith, I.D., Sheppard, L.J., VAN Dijk, N., Sutton, M.A. & Fowler, D. (2008) Estimate of annual NH3 dry deposition to a fumigated ombrotrophic bog using concentration-dependent deposition velocities. Atmospheric Environment 42, 6637-6646.