Figure 4: NMDS based on Bray Curtis dissimilarities of the functional profile.

Statistically significant correlations of soil characteristics (C:N: carbon: nitrogen ratio; water: gravimetric water content; sand: sand amount; silt: silt amount; clay: clay amount) and the Shannon index (H’) were indicated by arrows. Grassland soil samples are represented by brown squares, forest samples by green triangles. Samples from different regions are distinguished by color shading (SEG: Schorfheide-Chorin grassland; SEW: Schorfheide-Chorin forest; HEG: Hainich-Dün grassland; HEW: Hainich-Dün forest; AEG: Schwäbische Alb grassland; AEW: Schwäbische Alb forest).