The Kentucky Academy of Science was founded in 1914 and now marks its 100th year. In celebration of the event, we have traced its evolution from the beginnings to an organization that now contains more than 2500 members. In 1993, Ted M. George of Eastern Kentucky University published an extraordinary history of the Kentucky Academy of Science covering the first 78 years (1914–1992). He meticulously reviewed Academy archives and back issues of the Journal along with input from a number of long-time Academy members to produce not only the history but also the flavor of the Academy as it grew and matured. Our objective here is not to begin again in documenting the history but to update what George had so nicely produced. Therefore, much of his manuscript has been reproduced verbatim with additions and edits that cover the past 22 years.

Bacillus cereus GS1 secretes a diffusible bacteriocin-like molecule into culture medium that can be detected by a modified spot-on-lawn agar plate method. The secreted molecule exhibits a narrow inhibitory spectrum, affecting only the growth of Bacillus subtilis 6633 and certain other Gram-positive species. The molecule, in cell-free supernatant, is heat-stable and resistant to degradation by a number of proteases and to denaturation by several solvents. Clearing on agar plates is inversely related to the ionic strength of the growth medium, consistent with a membrane-directed activity. Analysis of activity gels reveals a clearing that coincides with a low molecular weight protein of about three kilodaltons. The inhibitory spectrum and protease sensitivity profile observed for this bacteriocin-like molecule distinguish it from similarly described molecules produced by other strains of Bacillus cereus. Our results support our hypothesis that the inhibitory molecule is a novel, low molecular weight bacteriocin from Bacillus cereus and we propose naming it Cerein GS1.

Flooding in the US has been responsible for billions of dollars in damages as well as hundreds of deaths. The danger of flooding is magnified on rivers that have no controls of any kind to regulate discharge during flooding events. This study uses a detailed hydroclimatic analysis to categorize floods of the Red River at Clay City, Powell County, Kentucky using homogenous subgroups based on the atmospheric mechanism responsible for each flood. The subgroups are then plotted on histograms. The results show that the majority of floods in Clay City occur between January and March due to frontal boundary systems. The shape of the distribution suggests that the subgroups created are mostly homogenous with the individual climate mechanisms directly linked to the amount of discharge.

Dietary supplements are pills, capsules, tablets, or liquid products that contain a vitamin, mineral, herb, botanical, or amino acid. These products are usually marketed using health claims that do not have to be approved or safety-tested by the U.S. FDA. The literature on the use of herbal supplements has identified gaps in the knowledge associated with factors that influence their use, especially among young adults in rural Appalachia. This study (a) collected information regarding demographics, type of supplements and frequency of use, and (b) identified factors that are statistically related to an increased use of herbal supplementation. It was found that only two variables, amount of fruit and vegetables in the diet and number of physician visits per year, were related to increased herbal supplement use. Female participants who have a better perception of science as a discipline, compared with male participants, tend to use herbal supplements more often. It was noted that many participants could not differentiate herbal supplements from real medications. This information can be used to plan and implement targeted awareness campaigns that can educate college students about the lack of scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of herbal supplements and the “whole food” approach to nutrition.

Pasture weed control is complicated by the steep hill side topography found in many areas of Kentucky. Meat goats (Capra hircus) are a possible alternative to mechanical or chemical weed control in these pasture situations. A study using 120 boer-cross female goats averaging 44 kg, was conducted in Carter County (2010–2012) to determine the impact of meat goats on undesirable plant species. Additionally, 15 goats chosen at random were fitted with GPS collars for 5 days to determine animal activity. Plant population and canopy density measurements were recorded at the start, middle, and end of the grazing season for two or three years. Goat periodic preference for particular plant species resulted in an increase in growth of other species for the same period or year. Bramble density in the upper canopy (90 cm and above) decreased during the study, particularly in the first year of grazing, but increased in the second year, as goat preference changed (P < 0.05). Overall, grass availability in the middle and lower canopy (45 cm to 90 cm and 0 to 45 cm, respectively) increased during the grazing season in the study (P < 0.05). Distinct activity patterns related to resting, foraging period and locations were observed in goats from GPS measurements. The effectiveness of goats in eliminating undesirable plants species and the use of GPS as tool in determining behavior showed great potential for using meat goats in a vegetation management plan.

Prior to 1998 no record of a Seminole bat (Lasiurus seminolus) had been recorded in Kentucky, despite extralimital records of this species occurring in several states farther north in latitude. As of 2014, 12 specimens of the species have been recorded in Kentucky, with Seminole bats captured or recovered in Barren, Edmonson, Fayette, Lyon, and Trigg counties; an expanse of the state exceeding 300 km. Records include both juvenile and adult bats of males and females, with two reproductively active females captured in Trigg County in 2002 and 2005. Seminole bats were captured as early as 5 July and as late as 17 September, with 66.7 % of specimens recorded during the summer maternity season. The relatively recent preponderance of Seminole bat records across Kentucky suggests these bats are infrequent visitors to the state, at least during the mid-summer to autumn seasons, and are potentially breeding in the southwestern region near Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. We hypothesize that continued range expansion of the Seminole bat could result in this species becoming a breeding-summer resident in Kentucky, likely inhabiting yellow-pine forests in the southernmost counties of the state.

An understanding of prey consumption patterns across bat species is lacking in a community context across Appalachia. This region of North America is of immediate importance to conservation efforts given the emergence of White-nose Syndrome (WNS). We report on prey consumed by 187 bats captured in mist nets from 2006 to 2008 in Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Results indicate that consumption of arthropod groups varies among bat species and geographic location, but Coleoptera and Lepidoptera were important dietary items across this predator assemblage. We attribute the variation observed across bat species to be due to differences in ecomorphology and foraging strategies. This study provides baseline data for investigating feeding patterns following impacts from WNS in the Central Appalachian region.

Overharvesting and habitat loss resulted in the extirpation of river otters (Lontra canadensis) across much of Kentucky and efforts in the mid-1990s by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources have led to a resurgence of otter populations across the state. Since recovery, limited data on the biology of these animals have been collected, including levels of infection by endoparasites. We performed necropsies on 170 river otters obtained during the 2006–2009 harvest seasons. We found nematode parasites present in the fascial layers of the hind leg of 5 juvenile river otters for a minimum infection level for the Kentucky population of 0.0294. Infected animals were recorded in the Green, Kentucky, and Mississippi River watersheds. All nematodes were females of the genus Dracunculus, which cannot be assigned to the species level based on morphological characteristics. These observations are the first documented case of Dracunculus infection in river otters in Kentucky.