The abundance of phoD corresponded with alkaline phosphatase
activity in the soil, being greater in plots receiving organic fertilizer
amendments, but the diversity of organisms expressing phoD was greater
in soils under conventional management (i.e. receiving only mineral
fertilizer) in which alkaline phosphatase activity was relatively low. The
broader application of this technique in both natural and managed ecosystems
will provide important insight into microbial organic phosphorus
cycling, particularly as it becomes possible to identify and quantify
the many of other classes of phosphatase gene known to occur in the
environment.