Figure 3.

T-RFLP based NMDS plots of alkB gene harbouring communities based on DNA-derived T-RFLP analysis (a, b) and mRNA-derived T-RFLP-analysis (c, d) in sandy and silty soil microcosms covered with maize (a, c) and pea litter (b, d). Community similarity was calculated using Bray–Curtis similarity measurement, which includes presence and relative abundance of T-RF. Note that only bulk soil was sampled at T0, as no differences between litter–soil interface and bulk soil were expected at the beginning of the incubation. Arrows are correlation vectors of diversity differences and environmental conditions with significance factors P<0.1 (for exact significance level see Supplementary Material S4). Monte–Carlo permutation model based analysis with 1000 permutation and final ANOVA was applied to test for significance.