Status of Ozark cavefish, cave crayfish, and other stygobionts in Arkansas

Art Brown and G.O. Graening
Dept of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701,501-575-3251, artbrown@comp.uark.edu

We are currently studying the status of endangered stygobionts in Arkansas, principally Ozark cavefish, Amblyopsis rosae, and cave crayfish, Cambarus aculabrum, and the quality of their habitats. Additional objectives are to survey populations of other cavefish (Typhlichthyes subterraneus) and cave crayfish (e.g. C. zophonastes), and to find other, perhaps new, stygobionts in Arkansas. About 75-80% of the observable Ozark cavefish (ca. 166/220) occur in Cave Springs, Arkansas. This population has increased steadily since 1980 but the water quality has declined during this time. Similar habitat degradation is occurring at other locations. Less than 20 individuals of each of the cave crayfish species is known to exist, one from two caves and the other from a single cave. Stable isotope analyses indicate that Ozark cavefish and cave crayfish may depend on endangered gray bats (Myotis griscescens) for trophic support. Our studies portend undesirable outcomes for these interesting species.