Seed dispersal of plants by white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, across Western Kentucky

Documentation of seed dispersal in Western Kentucky of native and invasive plants by North American ungulates is the focus of this study. White-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, are a prominent long-distance seed disperser of this region. We are testing the hypotheses of how land management practices affect plant species variation in dispersal. For this study, there were 43 collection sites from two different land areas (Clark’s River National Wildlife Refuge and Murray State University Hancock Biological Station) across 17 locations. Clark’s River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was divided into three categories: Reforestation/Low Agriculture, Control/Low Agriculture, and Control/High Agriculture. Murray State University Hancock Biological Station was divided into three categories: 1-year since burn, 2-years since burn, and a control site. Species diversity of plants was recorded, and herbarium voucher specimens were created for each study site. Harvested pellets were placed in paper bags and set on the windowsill to air dry until processing, to induce seed dormancy. Pellet dissection was done under a dissecting microscope over U.S. standard sieves utilizing distilled water. Seeds separated were stored in coin envelopes at 4℃ for dormancy to prepare for germination. The first true leaf will be harvested for DNA barcoding to correctly identify the taxa, using a set of standard plant barcoding primers. This work is developing proof-of-concept for a larger study planned in the Western United States for the seed dispersal of Draba oligosperma by American Pronghorn, Antilocapra americana.