Data from: Contrasting effects of elevation on above and belowground plant pathogens

<p>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.</p>