|
Amy K. Stone, Ohio State University Extension, Lucas County; Joseph F. Boggs, James A. Chatfield, Mary Maloney, Erik A. Draper, Hannah Mathers, Pamela J. Bennett, Jane C. Martin, Marianne Riofrio, |
Ph.D. Research Pursuits
Graduate students in Dan's outstanding program highlighted their Ph.D. dissertation projects. The students included Jamee Hubbard, who is working to unlock the life cycle and management of calico scale; David Held, who is focusing on Japanese beetles to learn more about interactions with their hosts; and Michael Rogers, who is pursuing research on parasitoids of white grubs.
This group thoroughly impressed the participants with their lines of research and their results thus far. They clearly demonstrated why many believe UK has one of the top turf and landscape entomology programs in the nation.
Limestone, Karst, and Drought
Bill Fountain led a discussion on the effects of varying soil types on the water needs of landscape trees and shrubs. Bill noted that soil and rock strata conditions in the Lexington area provide some unique challenges. The underlying limestone rock strata produces what is known as a karst topography. The limestone caves and sinkholes that dot central Kentucky are among the most notable features of this type of topography.
However, a more subtle feature is the extremely rapid infiltration of water produced by the honeycombed nature of the limestone layers. Bill indicated that there is virtually no water table, and the karst topography tended to enhance the effects of even the smallest of droughts.