Data from: 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
diseases. Specifically, a combination of community proneness and Pielou’s
evenness index was the best model in predicting pathogen load. The
structural equation model further confirmed that although elevation
significantly changed both the plant community indices and soil
properties, elevation mainly drove pathogen load via plant
community-mediated effects, but decreased soil fungal pathogen richness
through temperature. A systematic meta-analysis composed of 48 studies
from 31 literatures confirmed our main conclusions that elevation did not
significantly foliar fungal diseases, but decreased soil fungal pathogen
richness significantly, indicating contrast effects of elevation in
driving above- and belowground plant pathogens. Hence, we distinguished
the different mechanisms for different parts of the plant pathogens in one
system, and our study will improve the predictability of plant diseases,
especially under the background of global climate change.