Biodiversity in short-rotation coppice

Highlights: • Short-rotation coppice provides a spatio-temporally dynamic habitat. • Biodiversity in short-rotation coppice is mainly influenced by coppice rotation length. • Size and shape determine short-rotation coppice's integration into the landscape. • SRC enhances biodiversity in otherwise homogeneous landscapes dominated by cropland. • Generalist plant and animal species are most common in short-rotation coppice. -- Abstract: Although short-rotation coppice (SRC) is a sustainable cultivation technique, biodiversity issues keep policy makers from encouraging farmers to establish SRC. From the 47 reviewed publications of this review 91% reported on poplar or willow SRC, and 63% focused on animal diversity. The α- and β-diversity were most often studied by quantifying species richness and abundance. SRC had a positive effect on fungal diversity, which was negatively correlated to coppice rotation length, due to a higher nutrient demand after coppicing. In comparison with agricultural monocultures SRC provides a higher biodiversity, but it remains lower than that of mixed deciduous forests. Besides the planted genera and species, an understorey of generalist species similar to the previous land use develops and evolves to a forest-like understorey. At every coppice rotation the light availability changes and the planted area evolves from a bare field to a shrub-like vegetation, which later approaches a forest with a closed canopy. These changes in the plant community influence animal diversity. Bird populations similarly evolve from open-space to forest communities, continuously co-existing in shifting ratios. Arthropods and small mammals use the SRC to fulfil all of their habitat needs, while birds and large mammals only use the SRC for a limited number of resources. Recommendations for policy makers and SRC growers are provided, and areas for future research have been identified. It is concluded that introducing well-managed SRCs can enrich biodiversity in an agriculture-dominated landscape, but that SRCs most probably have a negative effect on biodiversity when introduced into a highly forested landscape.