TABLE 1.

A description of the group-specific primers used for the qPCR assays^a

Domain	Target group	Primer sequence (5′-3′)	Primer name	Reference
Bacteria	All groups	ACT CCT ACG GGA GGC AGC AG	Eub338	13
	All groups	ATT ACC GCG GCT GCT GG	Eub518	18
	α-Proteobacteriab	TCT ACG RAT TTC ACC YCT AC	Alf685	13
	β-Proteobacteriab	TCA CTG CTA CAC GYG	Bet680	21
	Actinobacteriac	CGC GGC CTA TCA GCT TGT TG	Actino235	26
	Firmicutesd	GCA GTA GGG AAT CTT CCG	Lgc353	17
	Bacteroidetese	GTA CTG AGA CAC GGA CCA	Cfb319	15
	Acidobacteria	GAT CCT GGC TCA GAA TC	Acid31	2
Eucarya (Fungi)	All groups	TCC GTA GGT GAA CCT GCG G	ITS1f	7
	All groups	CGC TGC GTT CTT CAT CG	5.8s	31
	Basidiomycota	CAG GAG ACT TGT ACA CGG TCC AG	ITS4b	7
	Basidiomycota	TCG ATG AAG AAC GCA GCG	5.8sr	31

^aThe bacterial taxonomy follows that described in the latest edition of Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology.

^bThis class is within the phylum Proteobacteria.

^cCommonly labeled the Actinomycete or high-GC-content gram-positive group.

^dCommonly labeled the low-GC-content gram-positive group.

^eCommonly labeled the Cytophaga-Flavobacteria or Cytophaga-Flexibacteria-Bacteroides group.