Abstract: Plant traits are important factors shaping bird diversity in fragmented habitats, with consequences on ecosystem function. Chinese yew (Taxus chinensis) is catalogued as endangered species in IUCN and as vulnerable to extinction in China. Most natural populations of T. chinensis show a scattered distribution near villages in southern China. In this study, we used the methods of line transects and sampling points to investigate the potential effects of fruit amounts, canopy density and height of T. chinensis on the diversity of bird visitors in the yew ecological garden of Meihuashan Nature Reserve. A total of 67 bird species were recorded in the garden, including 45 frugivorous bird species. The composition of bird community and dominant bird species differed across patches (bamboo patch and evergreen broad-leaved forest patch) and years. A total of 21 bird species visited the mature trees of T. chinensis, whose diversity was strongly affected by plant traits. Fruit amount was positively related to the individuals and species richness of birds. Population size of bird visitors was positively correlated with plant canopy density. Our results highlighted the importance of plant traits in shaping frugivore diversity, which could affect plant recruitment in fragmented habitats.

Key words: plant trait, Taxus chinensis,  bird diversity, bird visitor, patchy habitat.