IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v16y2025i1d10.1038_s41467-025-56439-z.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Temperature-dependent variations in under-canopy herbaceous foliar diseases following shrub encroachment in grasslands

Author

Listed:
  • Yilin Dang

    (Lanzhou University
    Southwest Forestry University)

  • Peng Zhang

    (Lanzhou University)

  • Peixi Jiang

    (Lanzhou University)

  • Junsheng Ke

    (Lanzhou University)

  • Yao Xiao

    (Lanzhou University)

  • Yingying Zhu

    (Fudan University)

  • Mu Liu

    (Lanzhou University)

  • Minjie Li

    (Lanzhou University)

  • Jihua Wu

    (Lanzhou University)

  • Jianquan Liu

    (Lanzhou University)

  • Bin Tian

    (Southwest Forestry University)

  • Xiang Liu

    (Lanzhou University)

Abstract

Shrub encroachment into grasslands poses a global concern, impacting species biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Yet, the effect of shrub encroachment on herbaceous diseases and the dependence of that effect on climatic factors remain ambiguous. This study spans over 4,000 km, examining significant variability in temperature and precipitation. Our findings reveal that herbaceous plant species richness diminishes the pathogen load of foliar fungal diseases of herbaceous plants in both shrub and grassland patches. Temperature emerges as the primary driver of variations in herbaceous biomass and pathogen load within herbaceous plant communities. Disparities in herbaceous biomass between shrub and grassland patches elucidate changes in pathogen load. In colder regions, shrub encroachment diminishes herbaceous biomass and pathogen load. Conversely, in warmer regions, shrubs either do not reduce or even amplify pathogen load. These discoveries underscore the necessity for adaptive management strategies tailored to specific shrub encroachment scenarios.

Suggested Citation

  • Yilin Dang & Peng Zhang & Peixi Jiang & Junsheng Ke & Yao Xiao & Yingying Zhu & Mu Liu & Minjie Li & Jihua Wu & Jianquan Liu & Bin Tian & Xiang Liu, 2025. "Temperature-dependent variations in under-canopy herbaceous foliar diseases following shrub encroachment in grasslands," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56439-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56439-z
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-56439-z
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-025-56439-z?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Matthew C. Fisher & Daniel. A. Henk & Cheryl J. Briggs & John S. Brownstein & Lawrence C. Madoff & Sarah L. McCraw & Sarah J. Gurr, 2012. "Emerging fungal threats to animal, plant and ecosystem health," Nature, Nature, vol. 484(7393), pages 186-194, April.
    2. Bates, Douglas & Mächler, Martin & Bolker, Ben & Walker, Steve, 2015. "Fitting Linear Mixed-Effects Models Using lme4," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 67(i01).
    3. Robert Bagchi & Rachel E. Gallery & Sofia Gripenberg & Sarah J. Gurr & Lakshmi Narayan & Claire E. Addis & Robert P. Freckleton & Owen T. Lewis, 2014. "Pathogens and insect herbivores drive rainforest plant diversity and composition," Nature, Nature, vol. 506(7486), pages 85-88, February.
    4. Zhiheng Qiu & Xiangli Wu & Jinxia Zhang & Chenyang Huang, 2017. "High temperature enhances the ability of Trichoderma asperellum to infect Pleurotus ostreatus mycelia," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(10), pages 1-16, October.
    5. Gwowen Shieh, 2005. "Power and sample size calculations for multivariate linear models with random explanatory variables," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 70(2), pages 347-358, June.
    6. Thomas M. Chaloner & Sarah J. Gurr & Daniel P. Bebber, 2021. "Plant pathogen infection risk tracks global crop yields under climate change," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 11(8), pages 710-715, August.
    7. Z. S. Venter & M. D. Cramer & H.-J. Hawkins, 2018. "Drivers of woody plant encroachment over Africa," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-7, December.
    8. Andrew Kulmatiski & Karen H. Beard, 2013. "Woody plant encroachment facilitated by increased precipitation intensity," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 3(9), pages 833-837, September.
    9. Alissa Packer & Keith Clay, 2000. "Soil pathogens and spatial patterns of seedling mortality in a temperate tree," Nature, Nature, vol. 404(6775), pages 278-281, March.
    10. Thomas M. Chaloner & Sarah J. Gurr & Daniel P. Bebber, 2020. "Geometry and evolution of the ecological niche in plant-associated microbes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Vanalli, Chiara & Radici, Andrea & Casagrandi, Renato & Gatto, Marino & Bevacqua, Daniele, 2024. "Phenological and epidemiological impacts of climate change on peach production," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    2. Pengfa Li & Leho Tedersoo & Thomas W. Crowther & Baozhan Wang & Yu Shi & Lu Kuang & Ting Li & Meng Wu & Ming Liu & Lu Luan & Jia Liu & Dongzhen Li & Yongxia Li & Songhan Wang & Muhammad Saleem & Alex , 2023. "Global diversity and biogeography of potential phytopathogenic fungi in a changing world," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. JANSSENS, Jochen & DE CORTE, Annelies & SÖRENSEN, Kenneth, 2016. "Water distribution network design optimisation with respect to reliability," Working Papers 2016007, University of Antwerp, Faculty of Business and Economics.
    4. Teruaki Kido & Yuko Yotsumoto & Masamichi J. Hayashi, 2025. "Hierarchical representations of relative numerical magnitudes in the human frontoparietal cortex," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-15, December.
    5. Raymond Hernandez & Elizabeth A. Pyatak & Cheryl L. P. Vigen & Haomiao Jin & Stefan Schneider & Donna Spruijt-Metz & Shawn C. Roll, 2021. "Understanding Worker Well-Being Relative to High-Workload and Recovery Activities across a Whole Day: Pilot Testing an Ecological Momentary Assessment Technique," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-17, October.
    6. Christopher Hassall & Michael Nisbet & Evan Norcliffe & He Wang, 2024. "The Potential Health Benefits of Urban Tree Planting Suggested through Immersive Environments," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-12, February.
    7. Jie Zhao & Ji Chen & Damien Beillouin & Hans Lambers & Yadong Yang & Pete Smith & Zhaohai Zeng & Jørgen E. Olesen & Huadong Zang, 2022. "Global systematic review with meta-analysis reveals yield advantage of legume-based rotations and its drivers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    8. Elisabeth Beckmann & Lukas Olbrich & Joseph Sakshaug, 2024. "Multivariate assessment of interviewer-related errors in a cross-national economic survey (Lukas Olbrich, Elisabeth Beckmann, Joseph W. Sakshaug)," Working Papers 253, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank).
    9. F J Heather & D Z Childs & A M Darnaude & J L Blanchard, 2018. "Using an integral projection model to assess the effect of temperature on the growth of gilthead seabream Sparus aurata," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(5), pages 1-19, May.
    10. Valentina Krenz & Arjen Alink & Tobias Sommer & Benno Roozendaal & Lars Schwabe, 2023. "Time-dependent memory transformation in hippocampus and neocortex is semantic in nature," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, December.
    11. Morán-Ordóñez, Alejandra & Ameztegui, Aitor & De Cáceres, Miquel & de-Miguel, Sergio & Lefèvre, François & Brotons, Lluís & Coll, Lluís, 2020. "Future trade-offs and synergies among ecosystem services in Mediterranean forests under global change scenarios," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    12. Jack McDonnell & Thomas McKenna & Kathryn A. Yurkonis & Deirdre Hennessy & Rafael Andrade Moral & Caroline Brophy, 2023. "A Mixed Model for Assessing the Effect of Numerous Plant Species Interactions on Grassland Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function Relationships," Journal of Agricultural, Biological and Environmental Statistics, Springer;The International Biometric Society;American Statistical Association, vol. 28(1), pages 1-19, March.
    13. Ana Pinto & Tong Yin & Marion Reichenbach & Raghavendra Bhatta & Pradeep Kumar Malik & Eva Schlecht & Sven König, 2020. "Enteric Methane Emissions of Dairy Cattle Considering Breed Composition, Pasture Management, Housing Conditions and Feeding Characteristics along a Rural-Urban Gradient in a Rising Megacity," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-18, December.
    14. Damian M. Herz & Manuel Bange & Gabriel Gonzalez-Escamilla & Miriam Auer & Keyoumars Ashkan & Petra Fischer & Huiling Tan & Rafal Bogacz & Muthuraman Muthuraman & Sergiu Groppa & Peter Brown, 2022. "Dynamic control of decision and movement speed in the human basal ganglia," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.
    15. Kathrin Stenchly & Marc Victor Hansen & Katharina Stein & Andreas Buerkert & Wilhelm Loewenstein, 2018. "Income Vulnerability of West African Farming Households to Losses in Pollination Services: A Case Study from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-12, November.
    16. Dongyan Liu & Chongran Zhou & John K. Keesing & Oscar Serrano & Axel Werner & Yin Fang & Yingjun Chen & Pere Masque & Janine Kinloch & Aleksey Sadekov & Yan Du, 2022. "Wildfires enhance phytoplankton production in tropical oceans," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    17. Zhaogeng Yang & Yanhui Li & Peijin Hu & Jun Ma & Yi Song, 2020. "Prevalence of Anemia and its Associated Factors among Chinese 9-, 12-, and 14-Year-Old Children: Results from 2014 Chinese National Survey on Students Constitution and Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-10, February.
    18. Schmidt, Dominik & Stöckl, Thomas & Palan, Stefan, 2024. "Voting for insider trading regulation. An experimental study of informed and uninformed traders’ preferences," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    19. Dong Sheng & Siyuan Jing & Xueqing He & Alexandra-Maria Klein & Heinz-R. Köhler & Thomas C. Wanger, 2024. "Plastic pollution in agricultural landscapes: an overlooked threat to pollination, biocontrol and food security," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    20. Marco Lopez-Cruz & Fernando M. Aguate & Jacob D. Washburn & Natalia Leon & Shawn M. Kaeppler & Dayane Cristina Lima & Ruijuan Tan & Addie Thompson & Laurence Willard Bretonne & Gustavo los Campos, 2023. "Leveraging data from the Genomes-to-Fields Initiative to investigate genotype-by-environment interactions in maize in North America," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56439-z. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.