Fig. 2

Average and standard deviation (error bars) of relative (normalized to total 16S rRNA gene reads) total ARG abundances by class for each compost experimental condition. ARG classes were identified by comparing Illumina shot-gun reads to CARD v1.0.4. a Small-scale. Across all samples/conditions day 0 > day 42 (p = 0.006). Further, day 0 > day 42 for all dairy conditions/samples combined (p = 0.004), all turned dairy conditions/samples combined (p = 0.04), and for all dairy with antibiotics (ABX) conditions/samples combined (p = 0.02). b Externally heated. No significant factors were found for total ARG relative abundance. In terms of composition of resistome determined by ANOSIM, duration of composting was a significant factor for both the small-scale (R = 0.161, p = 0.007) and externally heated (R = 0.2, p = 0.05) conditions. Externally heated dairy with ABX day 4 condition was not sequenced