Spring Cavefish - Current Management

Current Management

The status and distribution of cave-obligate species is incomplete or lacking entirely, which makes conservation and management decisions difficult. It is known that this species is listed as state endangered in Missouri. It has also been listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List as data deficient due to the lack of population studies. This species is declining, but many of the reasons are unknown. Therefore, a need exists to document the subterranean diversity, as well as the threats that impose upon the continued survival of this species. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is proposing to investigate the status, distribution, ecology, phylogenetic relationships, and threats to populations of three cave-associated fishes in the family Amblyopsidae in Kentucky (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources 2008). Kentucky and Missouri are the 2 main states that have their agencies managing this species in some way. Missouri has purchased Cape LaCroix Bluffs Conservation Area (CA) to provide habitat for the state endangered spring cavefish. The Cape LaCroix Bluffs CA is a 63.21 acre area that supports natural wetlands, limestone bluffs, and beech mesophytic forests unique to eastern Missouri. These are good examples of states acting to protect this species, however there are not many others currently.