Soil community composition is related to plant community composition in the field. Variation in plant community composition across the field samples ordered by the first principal coordinate score (i.e. the x-axis represents a gradient of plant community compositions where communities further apart are more dissimilar), and relationships between soil taxonomic group relative abundance and the plant first principal coordinate score (A). Linear trend lines were only plotted for groups that had a Pearson correlation P ≤ 0.05. Relationship strength between dissimilarities in soil communities and dissimilarities in plant communities (* = P < 0.05, ** = P < 0.01, *** = P = 0.001; Mantel tests; B). Pairwise Bray-Curtis dissimilarities in plant community composition, as assessed using aboveground tissue, are not related to dissimilarities in plant community composition as assessed using root tissue, but they are related to dissimilarities in plant community composition as assessed using plant DNA in soil (C).