Fig 1. OTU definition criteria.

When all methodologies were in accordance in distinguishing a sample (or sample group), we considered it as a single OTU of the pattern A. When the OTU was morphologically distinct but genetically indistinct (at least by one genetic methodology), we considered it as OTU of the pattern B. When the OTUs were genetically distinct (by GMYC and BIN) but morphologically indistinct, they were considered as distinct OTUs of the pattern C. When the OTU was distinct by only one genetic methodology, it was considered to be of the pattern D.