Why phylogenetic signal of traits is important in ecosystems: uniformity of a plant trait increases soil fauna, but only in a phylogenetically uniform vegetation.

Phylogenetically closely related plant species often share similar trait states (phylogenetic signal), but local assembly may favor dissimilar relatives and thereby decouple the diversity of a trait from the diversity of phylogenetic lineages. Associated fauna might either benefit from plant trait diversity, because it provides them complementary resources, or suffer from it due to dilution of preferred resources. We hence hypothesize that decoupling of trait and phylogenetic diversity weakens the relationship between the plant-trait diversity and the abundance and diversity of associated fauna. Studying permanent meadows, we tested for combined effects of plant phylogenetic diversity and diversity of two functional traits (specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content) on major groups of soil fauna (earthworms, mites, springtails, nematodes). We found that only in phylogenetically uniform plant communities, was uniformity in the functional traits associated with (i) high abundance in springtails, and (ii) high abundance of the sub-group that feeds more directly on plant material (in springtails and mites) or those that are more prone to disturbance (in nematodes), and (iii) high diversity in all three groups tested (springtails, earthworms, nematodes). Our results suggest that soil fauna profits from the resource concentration in local plant communities that are uniform in both functional traits and phylogenetic lineages. Soil fauna would hence benefit from co-occurrence of closely related plants that have conserved the same trait values, rather than of distantly related plants that have converged in traits. This might result in faster decomposition and a positive feedback between trait conservatism and ecosystem functioning.

New pigments from the terrestrial cyanobacterium Scytonema sp. collected on the Mitaraka inselberg, French Guyana.

Inselbergs are hills rising abruptly from the surrounding plains where cyanobacteria are the only living organisms under conditions of intense solar radiation. A survival mechanism to prevent UV-damage has been associated with synthesis of the ultraviolet-screening, photostable sheath pigment scytonemin. The organic extract of Scytonema sp., collected on the Mitaraka inselberg, French Guyana, yielded three new pigments, tetramethoxyscytonemin (1), dimethoxyscytonemin (2), and scytonine (3), derived from the scytoneman skeleton of scytonemin. These structures were assigned mainly on the basis of (1)H and (13)C NMR and MS experiments.

[Oral and intramuscular ferric dextran administration in male rearing calves. 5. Live weight gain during maintenance in fluid feed and weaning ranges]. / Zur oralen und intramuskulären Ferridextranintervention bei männlichen Aufzuchtkälbern. 5. Mitteilung. Lebendmassezuwachs während der Haltung im Tränk- und Absetzkälberbereich.

195 rearing calves, which immediately after their gathering from various dairy farms had an anaemia frequency of 57.4% and an average age of 22 d and an average live weight of 43 kg, were at random divided into 3 groups and received in addition to the iron in the rations oral (B), intramuscular (C) or no (A) ferridextrane applications during their 56-day stay in the fluid feed range of a rearing farm. The average live weight gain of the calves during these 56 days in groups A, B, and C was 882 +/- 171, 949 +/- 145 and 912 +/- 170 g/d resp. and during the 57-day stay in the weaning range 664 +/- 205, 715 +/- 222 and 670 +/- 226 g/d resp. The significant advantage in the development reached by the calves in group B over those in group A during their stay in the fluid feed range did not get lost after the change to the weaning range. Based on the cost of medicine and on the development of the live weight of the calves in the 3 test groups in the fluid feed and weaning ranges the economic effect of ferridextrane applications was calculated. Under the rearing conditions given, iron intervention proved to be sensible for both health and economic reasons.

[Oral and intramuscular intervention with dextriferron in growing male calves. 4. Development of food intake during the suckling period]. / Zur oralen und intramuskulären Ferridextranintervention bei männlichen Aufzuchtkälbern. 4. Mitteilung. Futterverzehrsentwicklung während der Haltung im Tränkkälberbereich.

The influence of oral and intramuscular ferridextrane intervention on the calves' absolute and relative consumption of skim milk, rearing feed for calves and lucerne hay in the 1st, 4th and 8th week of their stay in the weaning range of the rearing farm was investigated. The effect of iron substitution was dependent on the duration of keeping and of the experiment and, under conditions of the drinking regime given, manifested itself both in the development of the absolute and in the development of the relative skim milk intake, but not in that of dry feed consumption. The causes and consequences of the time dependence of the influence of iron intervention on feed consumption are discussed. In the 8th week of keeping the nutrient intake of the orally substituted group was between 8.0 and 9.0% higher than that of the control animals. With the drinking regime used, which led to a relatively quick development of dry feed consumption, differences between the test groups with regard to the consumption of concentrated feed and hay as well as the relative energy and protein quota from the fluid feed in relation to the complete energy and protein intake of the 8th week of keeping could not be proved. Based on these criteria, iron intervention was without influence on the stage of development of the ruminal digestion of the rearing calves reached at the end of the 56-day experiment. With a drinking regime which results in a relatively slow development of dry feed consumption, such an effect is certainly probable.

[Oral and intramuscular ferridextran intervention in male breeding calves. 3. Nutrient and feed uptake during the stay in the weaning range]. / Zur oralen und intramuskulären Ferridextranintervention bei männlichen Aufzuchtkälbern. 3. Mitteilung. Nährstoff- bzw. Futteraufnahme während der Haltung im Tränkkälberbereich.

The influence of an oral and intramuscular Fe-application on the nutrient (dry matter, energy, protein and iron) and feed intake resp. (skim milk, calf rearing feed and lucerne hay) of calves during their 56-day stay in the weaning range of a rearing farm was investigated. There were significant differences between the test animal groups with regard to nutrient intake; their levels had the following sequence: B (Fe orally) greater than C (Fe i.m.) greater than A (without Fe-supplement). In the calf rearing organised as graded production the effect of iron intervention on nutrient intake probably occurs as a consequence of the reduction of the depression of feed consumption caused by disease. By comparison with the nutrient and feed intake of weaning calves from a different rearing farm one can further conclude that this secondary effect of iron intervention does not only depend on the more or less rapid remedy of the differently marked states of iron deficiency of the calves but also on the other rearing conditions (particularly the drinking regime). It is improbable that the oral ferridextran intervention (200 mg Fe/d) carried out provokes excessive iron supply.

[Oral and intramuscular ferridextran intervention in male rearing calves. 2. Morbidity rates and treatment frequency for pneumonia and/or diarrhea]. / Zur oralen und intramuskulären Ferridextranintervention bei männlichen Aufzuchtkälbern. 2. Mitteilung. Morbiditätsraten und Behandlungshäufigkeiten an Pneumonie und/oder Durchfall.

Cases of pneumonia and/or diarrhoea were compared in 3 groups of calves with a different iron supply in their 56-day stay in the weaning range of a rearing farm (A: without additional iron supply; B: 200 mg Fe/d between feeding times; C: 1.0 and 1.5 g Fe on the 3rd and 36th day in the weaning range). Anaemia frequency (hemoglobin content lower than 105 g/l) immediately after stabling the calves that had come from various farms was 57.4%. Iron application was carried without considering individual iron equipment. Ferridextrane intervention resulted in a drastic reduction of the crowding disease development. Oral iron supply had a more distinct effect than intramuscular supply and the effect was more evident in the duration of pneumonia than in that of diarrhoea.

[Oral and intramuscular ferridextran intervention in growing male calves. 1. Hematologic reactions]. / Zur oralen und intramuskulären Ferridextranintervention bei männlichen Aufzuchtkälbern. 1. Mitteilung. Hämatologische Reaktionen.

195 calves were at random divided into 3 test groups and received oral (200 mg Fe/d) or intramuscular (1.0 and 1.5 g Fe on the 3rd and 36th day of the period of fluid feeding) applications of ferridextrane or no additional quotas of iron (control group) and a limited supply of milk replacer and skim milk as well as ad libitum supply with concentrated feed and dried green fodder during their 56-day period in the range of the rearing farm where the calves receive fluid feed. Iron intervention was carried out without considering the individual iron content of tissue. Its effect was evaluated according to the hemoglobin content (Hb), the hematocrit (Hc) and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in venous puncture blood. There was no difference between the test groups as to the stabling conditions (affiliation to race and genotype, birth weight, age and live weight resp. at the beginning of the experiment, live weight gain before the beginning of the experiment). In the control group Hb, Hc and MCHC were analogous to previous epidemiologic investigations concerning the anaemia of calves. The ferridextrane interventions carried out resulted in a raised level of Hb and Hc and diminished anaemia frequency as well as the shortened duration of anaemia in this rearing period.

[Reference values of hemoglobin content, hematocrit and mean concentration of corpuscular hemoglobin of calves reared without iron supplementation. 3. Comparison of the observed age dependency with literature values]. / Referenzwerte des Hämoglobingehalts, des Hämatokrits und der mittleren korpuskulären Hämoglobinkonzentration bei Aufzuchtkälbern ohne Eisensubstitution.

The average hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hc) values determined in our own investigations with 491 rearing calves in the first five months of their lives were compared with the nationally and internationally published data of the dependence of these hematologic values on the age or rearing resp. milk fattening calves. The main influencing factors on the ageing development were the initial level of Hb and Hc, the length of the milk feeding period, the time of the beginning of feed supplementing, the development of dry matter consumption resp. the supply with milk, the iron content of the milk exchanger and the live weight increase achieved under the respective nutritional conditions. This dependence on the development proves that anaemia occurring with rearing calves in the first few weeks of their lives is mainly caused by iron deficiency. From the similarity of the average Hb resp. Hc values one can derive the conclusion that the considerable anaemia frequencies observed in one's investigations are not a phenomenon specific of one farm or of time but represent a general problem of the rearing of calves without iron substitution.

[Reference values of hemoglobin content, the hematocrit and mean concentration of corpuscular hemoglobin in rearing calves without iron substitution. 2. Dependence on live weight and age]. / Referenzwerte des Hämoglobingehalts, des Hämatokrits und der mittleren korpuskulären Hämoglobinkonzentration bei Aufzuchtkälbern ohne Eisensubstitution.

The hamoglobin content (Hb), the hematocrit (Hc) resp. the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were determined resp. calculated of the blood samples (1 to 6 per animal) taken from 491 rearing calves during the first 23 weeks of their lives. Hb, Hc and MCHC were graphed as arithmetic means with standard deviation, as quartiles and as frequency distributions on an interval scale in dependence on live weight (20 ... 160 kg) resp. age (1 ... 161 days). It follows that the period of development from birth up to 28 days of keeping in the weaning area of the rearing farm, up to an age of 63 days resp. a live weight of 80 kg must, under the reference conditions, be considered the minimal period in which the supply of iron covering the needs by iron intervention in the whole stock of calves seems advisable.

[The reference values of the hemoglobin content, the hematocrit and the mean concentration of corpuscular hemoglobin of calves reared without iron substitution. 1. Dependence on the rearing period]. / Referenzwerte des Hämoglobingehalts, des Hämatokrits und der mittleren korpuskulären Hämoglobinkonzentration bei Aufzuchtkälbern ohne Eisensubstitution. 1. Mitteilung. Abhängigkeit vom Haltungsbereich.

A total of 1.088 blood samples (1 to 6 per animal) were taken from 491 rearing calves in the colostral period, the milk feeding period and the weaning period (at the age of 4, 22, 51, 79, 105, 122 and 145 days); the hemoglobin content (Hb), the hematocrit (Hc) resp. the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were determined resp. calculated. Hb, Hc and MCHC were drawn in diagrams in dependence on the rearing period as arithmetic means with standard deviations, as quartiles and as frequency distributions on an interval scale. During the rearing periods with milk feeding the anaemic frequency was considerable. Anaemia resp. hypochromia frequency had an inverse relation to the developing increase of concentrated feed and roughage consumption and thus makes it probable that the cause of anaemia is the intake and/or absorption of iron insufficient for the weight gain performance achieved. The consumption of solid feed by the hematologically examined calves developed more quickly than in other GDR rearing farms due to the early ad libitum supply with this feed component and the composition of fluid feed with milk. Reference is made that the frequency of hypoferric anaemia can also be considerable during the milk feeding period in the intensive rearing of lambs and kids if an effective iron intervention is not made.

[Investigations of anemia of male rearing calves. 4. Relations between weight at birth, duration of keeping and increase of the ive weight in the period of the calves being fed on colostrum as well as the count erythrocytes in the weaning period of the calves]. / Untersuchungen zur Anämie bei männlichen Aufzuchtkälbern. 4. Mitteilung. Abhängigkeiten zwischen Geburtsmasse, Haltungsdauer und Lebendmassezuwachs im Kolostralkälberbereich sowie rotem Blutbild im Tränkkälberbereich.

With 195 male rearing calves which received concentrates ad libitum beside fluid feed with milk from their 5th day of life onward, investigations were made if and how far the characteristics of the development of the calves while they are fed on colostrum (body weight at birth, live weight increase and duration of keeping or stalling age) correlate with the hemoglobin content (Hb), the hematocrit (Hc) and the average corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) of the animals on the 3rd, 28th resp. 56th day of keeping in the weaning period. There was a significant simple dependence particularly between body weight at birth, live weight increase and stalling age on the one hand and the hematologic values on the 3rd day of keeping in the weaning period on the other. A partial correlation analysis showed that the live weight increase while the calves were fed on colostrum was the main variable for all three hematologic parameters at the beginning of the weaning period of the calves. With increasing live weight, Hb, Hc and MCHC were diminished. This analysis was supplemented by the results of a cross--section investigation of the development of the milk and concentrate consumption and the Fe-intake of the calves fed on colostrum. The calculation of the Fe-balance showed that the mere ad libitum supply with feed supplements rich in Fe cannot prevent Fe-deficiency. Anaemia developing in the first month of the calves' lives is not a physiologic one but essentially caused by Fe-deficiency.

[Normal values for the hemoglobin content, hematocrit and the average corpuscular hemoglobin concentration in calves for rearing: fall study, 1976]. / Normwerte des Hämoglobingehalts, des Hämatokrits und der mittleren korpuskulären Hämoglobinkonzentration bei Aufzuchtkälbern--Herbststudie 1976.

Raised calves were analysed for their frequency distributions of haemoglobin, haematocrit, and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, depending on phases of keeping, in two cross-section (n = 146 and 196) and one longitudinal section studies (the latter on three dates, n = 149, 144, and 141). Race, birth weight, age, and live weight of the calves and their fathers as well as lactation age of their mothers were used for reference. All animal groups exhibited at any time of testing significant deviations from Gauss' distribution in all tests undertaken to verify the normality of frequency distributions of the above haematological variables. Those frequency distributions exhibited clearly visible variations, depending on phases of keeping. A concept to meet such conditions is proposed for evaluation of all variables of the red blood count.

[Anemia of male rearing calves. Connections between anemia and feed consumption, development of the live weight and disease development]. / Untersuchungen zur Anämie bei männlichen Aufzuchtkälbern. 3. Mitteilung: Zusammenhänge zwischen Anämie sowie Futterverzehr, Lebendmasseentwicklung und Erkrankungsgeschehen.

Calves in a longitudinal investigation over the first rearing period in a rearing farm were grouped according to their anaemic status under consideration of the degree of severity and the duration on the basis of the hemoglobin contents resp. the hematocrit values on the 3rd, 28th and 56th rearing day. There were significant differences between the groups of calves with differing anaemia status concerning the absolute and relative feed consumption (milk, concentrated feed, hay resp. iron), the development of the live weight as well as the frequency of the treatment against pneumonia and/or diarrhoea.

[Anemia of male rearing calves. 2. Duration of anemia]. / Untersuchungen zur Anämie bei männlichen Aufzuchtkälbern.

From 203 male rearing calves in a longitudinal study during the first rearing period in a rearing farm the time could be determined in which the hemoglobin quota, the hematocrit resp. the average corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were lower than 10,5 g/dl, 33% resp. 30.5 g Hb/dl erythrocytes. The average duration of anaemia was 45, 29.5 resp. 44 days of the total of 56 keeping days in this rearing range (80.4%, 52.7% resp. 78.6% of the keeping period). During this rearing period 89.2%, 71.4% resp. 90.6% of all animals were anaemic for a shorter or longer time. With 29.8%, 26.2% resp. 29.9% of the anaemic calves the anaemic phase exceeded 56 days.

[Investigations of anemia of male rearing calves. 1. Reference conditions and anemia frequency]. / Untersuchungen zur Anämie bei männlichen Aufzuchtkälbern. 1. Mitteilung: Referenzbedingungen und Anämiefrequenz.

In a longitudinal investigation (3 points of time n = 214, 206 resp. 202) the hemoglobin quota (Hb), the hematocrit (Hct) resp. the average corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were analysed at male calves receiving semi-liquid feed in the transitional period from pre-ruminal to ruminal digestion (56d). Breed, live weight development, consumption of milk, concentrated feed resp. dried forage, diseases of the calves as well as the father and the milk yield resp. the lactation age of the mother were registered as reference conditions. The percentage of calves with an Hb less than 10.5 g/dl was at the three points of time 50.00%, 86.41% resp. 41.58%, of calves with an Hct less than 33,5% it was 43.46%, 66.02% resp. 31.68% and of calves with an MCHC less than 30.5 g Hg/dl erythrocytes 51.87%, 76,21 resp. 47,03%. 21.50%, 33.50% resp. 4.46% of all test animals even had an Hb of less than 8.5 g/dl.

[Nutrient supply of health and sick fluid fed calves]. / Zur Nährstoffversorgung gesunder und erkrankter Tränkkälber.

In the department for calves being fed with fluid feed of a specialised enterprise for calf rearing the daily intake of fluid feed (skim milk improved with milk substitute), concentrated feed and hay of a total of 341 female animals and the daily intake of energy and protein was calculated thereof. The average consumption of nutrients of the 206 healthy calves was compared with some international and national norms for the demand of nutrients. The comparison with some international values of demand and the results of the partial correlation analysis between energy and protein intake and live weight increase showed that the applied nutrition regime (particularly the kind of fluid feed) has resulted in an excessive supply of the calves with proteins and an insufficient supply with energy. This could not be realised from the GDR nutrients norm for the raising of calves published in 1976. Based on theoretical considerations and some recent findings of the science of nutrition we derived values of the protein and energy demand of our own. Subsequently an attempt is made to assess the supply with nutrients for sick calves.

[Effect of diseases on the nutrient intake by suckling calves]. / Zum Einfluss von Erkrankungen auf die Nährstoffaufnahme von Tränkkälbern.

An energy and protein intake test was applied to 341 female nursed calves under production conditions. Their daily intakes of skim milk enriched with milk substitute, fodder concentrates, and hay were recorded and their daily energy and protein intakes calculated. Their feed consumption was characterised by cumulative nutrient intake curves, depending on the time of foremilk feeding (K-I-period). Energy and protein intake figures were related to the findings obtained from daily health control, with the view to defining the effects of pneumonia or diarrhoea on feed intake. Both diseases were found to cause significant reduction in nutrient intake, depending on the given type of disease and severity, with their negative impact having been most markedly shown in the context of dry feed intake. The delay caused to the development of dry feed consumption by diseases of the respiratory and digestive tracts was many times longer than the time of the clinical course. The above observations provided some cues for conclusions regarding the approach to be taken by the veterinarian to diagnosis, therapy, and rehabilitation of affected calves. Certain concepts were derived from the findings as to how to feed calves to forestall developmental disorders.