Large old trees are refuges for avian frugivores under strong urbanisation pressures

We investigated the perching and feeding activities of avian frugivores on large trees along an urbanisation gradient in Wuhan, a rapidly expanding metropolis in China. Across three species of large fleshy-fruited trees, we recorded behaviours for a total of 4,857 bird individuals from 41 species, among which 944 individuals from 27 species were observed perching or feeding. Althoughoverall bird diversitydeclined with increasing urbanisation, the proportion of bird species utilising large trees for perching and/or feeding significantly increased towards more urbanised areas. These findings suggestthat large trees provide essential shelterand supplementaryfood resources in cities, with their ecological importance amplifying more pronounced as urbanisation intensifies. Our study highlights the vital role of large old trees in sustaining urban biodiversity and preserving key biological interactions, advocating for their prioritisationin urban planning and conservation strategies as integral components of resilient city landscapes.