We evaluated the reliability of the tooth-wear and replacement method for aging hunter-harvested deer on the Blue Grass Army Depot, Madison County, Kentucky. Eighty-seven hunter-harvested white-tailed deer were aged using the tooth-wear and replacement procedure and had an incisor tooth removed for aging via the cementum annuli method. We found no significant difference (P < 0.05) in the distribution of ages (1.5 years, 2.5 years, 3.5 years, ≥4.5 years) assigned using either method for male (X²  =  6.69) or female (X²  =  6.85) deer. The majority (77%) of the tooth-wear: cementum pairs of age estimates were in agreement for deer in this study. The tooth-wear and replacement technique tended to identify the age of female white-tailed deer ≥3.5 years of age incorrectly.

Leeches were collected from six fish species distributed among four of ten sites sampled. The leech species observed were Myzobdella reducta (Meyer 1940) and Myzobdella lugubris Leidy, 1851 of the family Piscicolidae and Placobdella pediculata Hemingway, 1908 of the family Glossiphoniidae. Attachment locations for Myzobdella lugubris included various sites in the buccal cavity of green sunfish [Lepomis cyanellus (Rafinesque)], largemouth bass [Micropterus salmoides (Lacepède)], and spotted bass [Micropterus punctulatus (Rafinesque)] and posterior to the eye of a largemouth bass. Attachment locations for Myzobdella reducta included on the caudal and pelvic fins of logperch [Percina caprodes (Rafinesque)] and the caudal and anal fin of spotfin shiners [Cyprinella spiloptera (Cope)] – a new host record. Attachment location observed for Placobdella pediculata was on the inside of the operculum of a freshwater drum [Aplodinotus grunniens (Rafinesque)]. This study established new host and attachment locations, the diverse presence of Myzobdella reducta on various fish species, and substantiated the high degree of host specificity of Placobdella pediculata for the freshwater drum.

Size structure of a tree population not only reflects its past history but also how it is likely to change in the future. Three species, all located in a wetland forest in northern Kentucky near the Ohio River, were examined. This forest is part of a network of newly established permanent plots in North America, and the acquisition of baseline data for this network is critical. The Fagus grandifolia (American beech) population was the dominant species in a mature stand of approximately 1 ha, while the Liriodendron tulipifera (tulip-poplar) and Celtis occidentalis (hackberry) populations were located in an adjacent second-growth stand (also ca. 1 ha) that has developed over the past 50 years. F. grandifolia had a close fit to a power law function, but the deviations from the function suggest that the population is not currently reproducing fast enough to replace itself. L. tulipifera, on the other hand, had a bell-shaped size distribution, indicating that it is no longer reproducing and will decrease in importance over time. C. occidentalis had a very close fit to a power law function, suggesting it will maintain itself at current levels in the future. Current F. grandifolia levels in the younger secondary stand suggest that it will increase its importance in the future and will come to resemble the population in the mature stand.

Sunflower Helianthus annuus is native to the United States and was domesticated by American Indians many centuries ago. Sunflowers exhibit wide variation and are grown worldwide for multiple purposes, including cut flowers. The present cut flower study involved 23 cultivars, three local environments, and performances data included in seed company catalogs, for cut flower production in Central Kentucky. Plant development data included seedling emergence, stem diameter, days to flowering, height at flowering, number of heads (marketable and nonmarketable) per plant, head diameter, vase life, and personal preference. There were evidences of both genetic and environmental variations for the plant characteristics. Flowering heads were rated as pleasing by florists and laypersons. The number of heads produced by some combinations of cultivars and environments would support profitable production. Further refinement is needed in the harvesting schedule and handling to reduce frequency of nonmarketable heads, to extend vase life, and to permit shipping greater distances. The results indicated that cut flowers have potential as a niche crop for Central Kentucky.

To determine the effect habitat management/border plantings have on beneficial insect diversity and abundance in agricultural crops, sweet corn, Zea mays L. ‘Garrison®’, was grown in replicated plots on Kentucky State University's Agricultural Research and Demonstration Farm. Each 25 m × 12 m plot was bordered on each length by a 2 m wide border of un-mowed pasture, buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), or dwarf sunflower (Heliathus annuus L. var. ‘Big Smile’). Yellow sticky traps 15 cm × 15 cm were used to capture lady beetles weekly through anthesis. Pink lady beetle, Coleomegilla maculata (DeGeer); Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas); spotless lady beetle, Cycloneda munda (Say); and seven spotted lady beetle, Coccinella septempunctata L. were caught in this study. The pink lady beetle was the most abundant species overall in all three borders and in the sweet corn plots with 79% and 94%, respectively. There were greater numbers of pink lady beetles in buckwheat (P < 0.00001) and sunflower (P  =  0.0064) borders than pasture borders. However, there were no differences among populations of any of the lady beetle species in any of the sweet corn plots. Pink lady beetles were more numerous in sweet corn bordered by buckwheat (P ≤ 0.05), sunflower (P < 0.0001) and pasture borders (P ≤ 0.03) than in the borders themselves.

Spicebush (Lindera benzoin L.) is a small native shrub that grows in the moist, understory areas of Appalachia and has potential as a new niche crop for small farmers. Native Americans and early settlers used this plant traditionally as a tea, and used the berries for jam, to spice food, and possibly for health benefits. Native spicebush patches may serve an important role in forest ecosystems in terms of fruit production for animals, soil erosion control, and enhancing insect biodiversity. Spicebush may also serve to hold ecological niches by outcompeting invasive plants compared to those in unchallenged areas. Genetic diversity of native spicebush populations in Kentucky has not been examined. The objective of this study is to determine the genetic diversity in spicebush populations in Kentucky using simple sequence repeat (SSR) DNA marker systems. Leaf samples were collected from 120 spicebush plants in the forests at the Kentucky State University Environmental Education Center (EEC), at a location near the Kentucky River, and at Cove Spring Park. DNA was extracted using the DNAmite Plant Kit. Primers A7, A115, B105, B122, C4, and C10 were used to amplify SSR products that were separated with a 3130 Applied Biosystems capillary electrophoresis system. The software program Power Marker was used to examine genetic relationships among genotypes. The SSR markers generated showed high genetic variation among the spicebush genotypes with the observed heterozygosity at 0.78. A number of selections with unique genotypes should be sampled and propagated for study in the KSU germplasm collection for potential cultivar development.

The pawpaw peduncle borer, Talponia plummeriana Busck (Lepidoptera: Torticidae), is a pest of pawpaw flowers often boring into the peduncle and causing flower drop. Here we document the first occurrence of this insect infesting ripe pawpaw fruit. Infested fruit that had been collected at the Kentucky State University Research and Demonstration Farm in Franklin County, Kentucky were dissected and small tan colored larvae with brown head capsules were discovered in the fruit. Pawpaw peduncle borer adults were reared from fruit held at room temperature in the laboratory.

The pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is a native understory tree of 26 states of the Eastern and Midwestern United States. Pawpaw's genetic diversity and clonality in relation to this tree's ability to compete with local invasive species in Kentucky has not been examined. The objectives of this study were two-fold: to determine the genetic diversity and clonality displayed in seven native pawpaw patches located at the Kentucky State University Environmental Education Center (KSU-EEC), The Kentucky River, Cove Spring Park, and the KSU Research and Demonstration Farm in Franklin County using DNA microsatellite markers; and to determine if patches reduced the incidence of invasive species. Twenty-five trees from seven patches in the four different locations were sampled for genetic analysis. Leaf samples were extracted using the DNAmite Plant Extraction Kit and products from four microsatellite loci were analyzed using a 3130 Applied Biosystems Gene sequencer. String grids were created and invasive plants counted in three 5 meter squares in each of the patches and control plots outside of each patch. The number of plants for each invasive species within pawpaw patches was counted and compared to the control plots. Pawpaw patches displayed high genetic diversity among populations with some clonal sections in patches using DNA microsatellite makers, but no totally clonal patches. Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii), garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), and winter creeper (Euonymus fortunei) were found in most locations; however, there was no significant difference in the incidence of invasive plants between the patches and the control plots. Pawpaw stem density and shading, among other factors may be important in the incidence of invasive plants within patches.