Ecology and Management of Coppice Woodlands

Contributed to by leading experts, this book looks at the history of coppice woodlands, their physical environment, the different management techniques used and their effects on the flora and fauna. The implications of this for conservation is controversial and this is debated in a lively way in many of the chapters.

1 Introduction. - 1 Coppices in the lowland landscape. - 2 Coppice forestry an overview. - 2 The Physical Environment. - 3 Growth stages and microclimate in coppice and high forest. - 4 Soil-water relations in an ancient coppice woodland. - 3 Contrasting Processes in Coppice and Forest Ecosystems. - 5 Coppicing and natural disturbance in temperate woodlands a review. - 6 Accumulation of dead wood a missing ingredient in coppicing? . - 4 Effects of Coppicing on the Ground Flora. - 7 The effects of coppicing and neglect on the performance of the perennial ground flora. - 8 The effects of changing management on seed banks in ancient coppices. - 5 Effects of Coppicing on Birds. - 9 Effects of coppice management on woodland breeding birds. - 10 Coppice management for pheasants. - 6 Effects of Coppicing on Mammal Populations. - 11 The effects of coppice management on small mammal populations. - 12 The interaction of deer and vegetation in coppice woods. - 7 Effects of Coppicing on Invertebrate Populations. - 13 Butterfly responses to coppicing. - 14 The quality of coppice woods as habitats for invertebrates. - 8 Implications of Coppicing for Conservation Management. - 15 Coppicing for nature conservation the practical reality. - 16 Coppicing a conservation panacea? . - Species index.