Abstract: The spatial pattern of naturally regenerated population of Taxus chinensis var. mairei and its seed dispersal by frugivorous birds in Xianyu Mountain of southern Anhui Province were investigated from September to December, 2006. The results showed that the naturally regenerated population was clumped distributed on the hillside at the altitude of >540 m and with an area of about 1.1 hm², and grew with bamboo (Phyllostachys heterocycla) in mixture. There were 1.331individuals of T. chinensis var.mairei in total, including 1 167 individuals of seedlings with the height less than 30 cm, which accounted for 87.68% of total. The population was of slowly increasing type, and resented a clumped spatial pattern. Ten species of frugivorous birds were found to feed on T. chinensis var. mairei seeds, of which, Urocissa erythrorhyncha, Hemixos castanonotus and Hypsipetes mcclellandii were the most important predators and dispersers. They swallowed the whole seed, digested the red aril, and excreted the seed intactly. One or two seeds could be found in each fresh feces of the frugivorous birds. The dropping seeds under parent trees were eaten by insects or decayed. Seeds under parent trees could germinate, but death rate was greatly high. Our study suggested that frugivorous birds played important role in T. chinensis var. maireiregeneration. They could transport the seeds to the new sites profitable for the seed germination and further growth.

Key words: Tenodera angustipennis, Light, Temperature, Growth and development, Preying function