In 1997, forest composition and structure were determined for Hi Lewis Pine Barrens State Nature Preserve, a 68-ha tract on the south slope of Pine Mountain, Harlan County, Kentucky. Data collected from 28 0.04-ha plots were used to delineate forest types. Percent canopy compositions were compared with those reported by Dr. E. Lucy Braun prior to the peak of chestnut blight. Four forest types were identified: Liriodendron-Acer, Quercus-Tsuga, Mixed Quercus, and Pinus-Quercus. Post-blight, little change has occurred in the Pinus-Quercus forest type on ridges and SSE aspects. On more mesic aspects, canopy gaps created by chestnut death were filled primarily by existing canopy species (Quercus spp.) and to a lesser degree by non-canopy species. Near the crest of the mountain, Acer rubrum has replaced Castanea dentata and assumed secondary importance to Liriodendron tulipifera. Castanea dentata remains an important component in the subcanopy of the four forest types and is present in the groundcover in three types. Except for the absence of C. dentata, species composition of Braun's forest types has remained relatively unchanged during the past 70 years; however, loss of C. dentata initiated changes in the relative importance of these species resulting in varying degrees of transition to post-blight forest types. Contribution of existing canopy species to importance values for the subcanopy and woody groundcover strata is less than that of fire-sensitive species, suggesting future changes in these post-blight forest communities.

This 30–year study reports on the changes in the structure and composition of an old-growth forest damaged by a tornadic windstorm in 1974. Tree density, basal area and species composition were measured at Dinsmore Woods State Nature Preserve, Boone County, Kentucky in 1973, in 1974 at the time of the tornado, and in 1985, 1994 and 2004 to document and assess community change in response to this disturbance. There was an initial decline in both density (N/ha) and basal area (m²/ha), followed by gradual increases, and by 2004 the forest community composition was similar to that of the pre-tornado community. Acer saccharum had experienced increases in both the overstory and understory strata while Quercus spp. and Fraxinus americana were the major overstory subdominants. These two species showed a decline in density in the understory.

A survey conducted in August and September 2006 provides information on present herbarium collections at 12 Kentucky institutions. A total of 338,000 vascular and nonvascular specimens are reported. Of these, 324,700 are vascular specimens, and 13,400 are nonvascular. This number represents a 37% increase in specimens since the last survey in 1995. Updates are provided on current curators, databasing efforts, and other changes during the last decade.

The five species in the genus Esox are popular gamefish that form a unique phylogenetic group based on their characteristic duckbill morphology as well as recent molecular data. To better understand the inter-specific relationships in this genus, the beta-actin gene was isolated from each of the five species, and sequence comparisons were carried out for nucleotide and amino acid positions within the gene. Additionally, an internal region of each actin gene family member was sequenced from Esox masquinongy. In contrast to published reports on Takifugu rubripes, where nine actin genes were identified, only six actin genes were detected in the esocids. The similarity and differences between these family members is outlined and the evolution of the actins is discussed. The significant intronic divergence between the actin family members among the five Esox species makes multi-actin gene amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) a potential diagnostic marker for species within a genus, and suggests its use in hybridization or population studies as an alternative to other DNA fingerprinting techniques.

We designed an in situ assay for investigating macroinvertebrate drift behavior in response to a point source of environmental pollution. As a model, we used Cinygmula nymphs to assess both the presence and level of copper contamination in a stream that was polluted with effluent from an abandoned copper mine. The study showed that Cinygmula exhibited increased tendency to drift with increased exposure to aqueous copper. Cinygmula drift behavior exhibited graded responses to increasing concentrations of aqueous copper up to and including 78 ppb. The results indicated that a simple yet sensitive in situ bioassay could be used to detect environmentally important levels of copper contamination in Haggarty Creek.

To investigate anecdotal range distributions for Nerodia erythrogaster, a total of 130 adult specimens from southern Illinois, western Kentucky, and adjacent western Tennessee were scored for ventral color and dorsal pigment invasion onto the ventral scales. Analysis of these characters revealed that true N. erythrogaster flavigaster populations do not exist in Kentucky and also may be absent from Tennessee. The region is instead dominated by morphs intermediate between N. e. flavigaster and N. e. neglecta. Furthermore, the range of N. e. neglecta should be extended along the Ohio and Cumberland rivers.

Mycelial growth of Pyricularia oryzae on amended potato-dextrose agar was inhibited to 50% of controls by ≥1250 ppm AH010 (40% benzalkonium chloride, 60% urea) and almost completely prevented by 10,000 ppm AH010. P. oryzae spore germination was completely inhibited by ≥18.6 ppm AH010 in sterile deionized water, and inhibition at 18.6 and 46.5 ppm AH010 was abolished by potato-dextrose broth. Sub-inhibitory concentrations of salicylic acid (SA; 50, 75, and 100 μM) negated the delaying effect of 9.3 ppm AH010 on spore germination. Maximal protection of perennial ryegrass plants from gray leaf spot disease (70–80% symptom reduction) was obtained with 2000 ppm foliar-applied AH010. Foliar-applied SA (2 mM) provided modest disease suppression that was dependent upon time of application and light regime. However, 2 mM SA antagonized disease suppression by AH010. Phytotoxicity of AH010 to L. perenne was observed, and this was conditioned by AH010 concentration and light regime.