Potential of small-scale and structurally diverse short-rotation coppice as habitat for large and medium-sized mammals

Felix Zitzmann,Michael Reich,Frank Schaarschmidt

doi:10.1007/s11756-021-00686-0

Abstract

We surveyed occurrence and activity of large and medium-sized mammals on three experimental short-rotation coppice (SRC) and three afforestations by camera trapping. Both habitat types were surveyed simultaneously in spring. Additional wintertime surveys were performed on the SRC to consider seasonal aspects of habitat utilisation. In spring, SRC and afforestations were predominantly used by the same species. European hare (Lepus europaeus) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) were the most active species across all sites. Additionally, the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) showed intense activity on one SRC site. Activity of carnivorous and omnivorous species was comparatively low in both habitat types, but even lower on the SRC. The only forest-associated species (European badger Meles meles), detected on all afforestations, was absent from the SRC. In winter, the surveyed SRC were used by the same species as in spring. Most species showed similar activity on the SRC in both seasons. We conclude that small-scale and structurally diverse SRC provide suitable habitat, in different seasons, especially for herbivorous mammals associated with farmland and forest-ecotones rather than forest species. The extent to which our results can be generalised to large-scale commercial SRC is unclear. However, the results indicate that SRC can be managed in a manner compatible with wildlife and may then have a habitat function for mammals comparable to that of young afforestations. Creation of within-plantation heterogeneity can be a suitable measure to improve habitat quality and should, therefore, be considered in the design and management of SRC.

Highlights

Renewable energy from biomass cultivation has significantly expanded in recent decades in order to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions (Edenhofer et al 2012)
Establishing short-rotation coppice (SRC) on arable land leads to a significant change in habitat characteristics and provides new habitat for wildlife on farmland (Christian et al 1994; Sage 1998)
Number of species per camera traps (CTs) per camera night did not differ between both habitat types (p = 0.70)

Summary

Introduction

Renewable energy from biomass cultivation has significantly expanded in recent decades in order to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions (Edenhofer et al 2012). Studies on biodiversity of these crops have shown positive effects compared to intensively managed arable land, especially in cleared agricultural landscapes and on structurally diverse plantations (Baum et al 2009; Rowe et al 2009; Schulz et al 2009; Vanbeveren and Ceulemans 2019). These previous studies primarily focused on breeding birds, carabid beetles and vascular plants. Considering the possible increase in SRC cultivation, in the context of expansion of renewable energies from biomass (Rowe et al 2009; Don et al 2012), more knowledge is needed to guide such development in an environmentally sound way and to incorporate biodiversity concerns into the crop management (Sage 1998; Dauber et al 2010)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion