Contrasting effects of elevation on above and belowground plant pathogens

Plant fungal diseases have a great influence on both photosynthesis and ecosystem function. However, how the elevation gradient, which is one of the most biogeographic factors, affects diseases is scarce. Here, we combined a field survey and a meta-analysis to test how elevation affect foliar fungal diseases and soil fungal pathogens through different paths. We arranged 30 plots along 3200 m ~ 4000 m in a Qinghai-Tibetan alpine meadow and collected the data of foliar fungal diseases, plant composition and soil properties to study how environment-mediated (through changes in temperature and humidity), plant community-mediated (through changes in plant biomass, richness, evenness, phylogenetic structure and community composition) and soil mediated (through changes in soil properties) effects of elevation on foliar fungal diseases and soil fungal pathogens. Based on linear models, we found that elevation decreased soil fungal pathogen richness rather than community pathogen load of foliar ...