The first occurrence of a fossil asteroid from the Upper Ordovician Grant Lake Limestone in Bath County, east-central Kentucky, is reported. Although incompletely exposed, long, slender, columnar arms, disk-shaped adambulacral plates, and limited data on the more aboral skeleton indicate assignment to the family Urasterellidae (Asteroidea; Echinodermata). The limestone slab bearing the fossil is part of a sequence of storm deposits, or tempestites, which comprise the upper part of the Grant Lake Limestone. The asteroid likely was picked up in a storm, transported, and deposited in the muddy sands that settled out after the storm. Although possibly partially dismembered, skeletal plates are essentially in life positions and buried without significant tissue decay nor discovery by burrowing scavengers, presence of the latter documented by texture of the enclosing sediment.

During the last century, numerous models have been developed to predict soil erosion and concomitant sediment deposition. Most have been shown to be inadequate and/or inaccurate in one respect or another. Historically, erosion model results have been compared with sediment outflow from watersheds, providing no information regarding sources and sinks of erosion and deposition within them. This paper documents the application of the new-generation Unit Stream Power Erosion and Deposition (USPED) model at the U.S. Army's Fort Campbell, Kentucky / Tennessee. The USPED model is relatively simple to apply and its novel approach compares model results with observed soil erosion and sediment deposition spatially across the landscape. The model results matched visually-estimated erosion/sediment deposition values 85% of the time, providing an encouraging test of the model. The approach we used provided information regarding the intensity and spatial distribution of soil erosion and sediment deposition that can be used to optimize the placement and size of soil erosion and sediment control efforts.

Black and turkey vultures inhabit all environs of Kentucky, yet nest sites are seldom reported. In this study, 44 nest locations of black vultures (Coragyps atratus) and turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) were recorded in north-central and south-central Kentucky, U.S.A., between 1999 and 2022. Black vultures comprised 65% of the nests found. For both species combined, 64% of the nests were in artificial structures. Artificial structures represented 82% of the black vulture nests and 31% of the turkey vulture nests. Black and turkey vulture nests averaged 481 and 987 m from human dwellings or activity. However, black vultures nested within 91 m, and turkey vultures had a nest 27 m from human activity. Abandoned houses and barns may provide a competitive advantage for black vultures over turkey vultures regarding nesting opportunities.

We compared the long-distance movements of the Frecklebelly Darter, Percina stictogaster, a pelagic fish species, to those of five other sympatric benthic or semipelagic darters. In four reaches of the Red River, Kentucky we tagged 942 individuals of six darter species using subcutaneous injections of visible implant fluorescent elastomer (VIE) from May 2012 to May 2013. These reaches, plus an additional four reaches, were surveyed by snorkeling or seining to detect previously tagged fishes. Over seven sampling sessions spanning June 2012 to November 2013 a total of 58 tagged darters were detected, including 20 P. stictogaster. Most darters were detected in the same reach in which they were tagged; inter-reach movements occurred more in pelagic (3 of 20) and semipelagic species (2 of 4) (both Percina) than in benthic species (2 of 34, all Etheostoma). Most (6 of 7) inter-reach movements were upstream. The relatively high dispersal tendencies of Percina darters suggest these darters are particularly vulnerable to in-stream barriers and that maintaining connectivity among populations should be a critical management goal.

Abstract We examined the responses of resident flocks of white-throated sparrows to unfamiliar individuals and vocalizations throughout the winter, while also examining circulating levels of the stress hormone corticosterone, to see if they paralleled behavioral changes. Concurrently, we validated identification of sparrow plumage morphs with genotype assays to determine reliability of field identification. Accuracy of field identification of plumage morphs was 68.8%. Baseline corticosterone did not differ among sampling periods, suggesting these birds did not experience prolonged chronic stress throughout the winter. However, white-throated sparrows responded more aggressively to study skins and playback of conspecific calls and songs in November than in January and March. These results suggest that agonistic displays may be more important for defending winter territories and establishing dominance status in early winter.

ABSTRACT There is renewed interest in flax or linseed, Linum usitatissimum L., as a seed crop since it contains high ω3 oil important to healthy diets. Flax was raised widely in Kentucky (KY) prior to World War I. A study was conducted in KY to determine the yield and oil quality of cultivars currently grown and adapted to North Dakota (ND). The cultivar Carter had the highest yield in two out of three years. Carter and Rehab grown in KY had significantly less linolenic acid than the same cultivars grown in ND. Linolenic acid levels for cv. Omega were significantly higher in ND than KY. Flax or linseed can be produced in KY but not with a very competitive yield.

Although Kentucky has an active Lepidoptera community, there are still several regions of the state with very sparsely documented butterfly faunas. While conducting surveys and obtaining personal collection materials for Lepidoptera throughout Kentucky, we documented new county distribution records for 16 butterfly species between Bath, Martin, and Rowan Counties in eastern Kentucky. In addition, we documented the second recorded multiple occurrence of Parrhasius m-album in Kentucky and a new earliest sighting date for Anthocharis midea in Kentucky.