Fig. 1

Compilation of the microbial community dynamics along the eight experimental stages in a and the process parameters in b and c over the course of 241 days. a A flowCyBar representing the frequency distribution and the development of the relative abundances of all 31 sub-communities (gating strategy in Additional file 1: S8). Blue fields mark negative and red ones positive deviations from the mean relative abundance of the respective sub-community. The duration of the experimental stages is colour-coded: 1—start-up , 2—TAN-shortage , 3—consolidation , 4—pH 5.75 , 5—pH 6.0 , 6—pH 6.25 , 7—pH 6.5 and 8—pH 7 . b Shows the pH value and the gas production . c Shows the concentrations of the major compounds involved in the chain elongation process: lactate , ethanol , acetate , butyrate ●, caproate ■ and caprylate ▲