Fig. 2

16S rRNA gene bacterial profiles are reflective of specimen biomass and are further influenced by DNA extraction methods and storage buffers. a Differences in beta diversities (calculated at OTU-level) measured from all bacterial mock community controls and no template controls (NTCs). b Differences in beta diversities measured from bacterial mock community controls and NTCs generated using Primestore storage buffer. c Differences in beta diversities measured from bacterial mock community controls and NTCs generated using STGG storage buffer. The proportion of variance captured by coordinate analysis axes are shown in the bottom left corner of each panel. Blue and red colours represent DNA extraction methods Kit-QS and Kit-ZB, respectively. Shades of chartreuse filled circles represent bacterial mock communities generated using Primestore storage buffer (solid-filled chartreuse circles: high biomass bacterial mock communities; pattern-filled chartreuse circles: low biomass bacterial mock communities). Shades of emerald filled circles represent bacterial mock communities generated using STGG storage buffer (solid-filled emerald circles: high biomass bacterial mock communities; pattern-filled emerald circles: low biomass bacterial mock communities). Dark green filled circles represent Zymobiomics-DNA. Chartreuse and emerald pattern-filled squares represent Primestore and STGG NTCs, respectively