(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species CAVEFISH, OZARK
Species Id ESIS254003
Date 13 MAR 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - CAVEFISH, OZARK
OTHER COMMON NAMES - CAVEFISH and OZARK
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Fish
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - CHORDATA,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - OSTEICHTHYES,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - PERCOPSIFORMES,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - AMBLYOPSIDAE,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - AMBLYOPSIS,
SPECIES AND SSP - ROSAE,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - AMBLYOPSIS ROSAE
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES -
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Ozark Cavefish
Amblyopsis rosae (Eigenmann, 1898)
KINGDOM: Animal GROUP: Fish
PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Osteichthyes
ORDER: Percopsiformes FAMILY: Amblyopsidae
The Ozark cavefish, Amblyopsis rosae (Eigenmann), is a member of
the family Amblyopsidae, a small group of North American fishes which
show various adaptions to life in the subterranean environment. The
family as revised by Woods and Inger (02) contains three genera and
five species, including the epigean species Chologaster cornuta, the
troglophile Chologaster agassize, and the troglobites Typhlichthys
subterraneus, Amblyopsis spelaea, and Amblyopsis rosae. A fourth
genus, Speoplatyrhinus poulsoni, was described by Cooper and Kuehne
(03). The family's distribution lies north of the Mississippi
Embayment and south of the last glaciation, in the eastern half of the
United States (02).
Amblyopsis rosae is a small (5-7 cm total length), white fish
with a broad flattened head, small scales, and no eyes (04).
Postcleithrum are absent and sensory papillae on anal fin are in four
to six rows (02). The anus migrates forward to the throat in adults
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species CAVEFISH, OZARK
Species Id ESIS254003
Date 13 MAR 96
(04). A. rosae can be differentiated from congener Amblyopsis spelaea
by absence of pelvic fins in A. rosae.
Amblyopsis rosae was first collected from Sarcoxie Cave (also
referred to as Day's Cave and Downer's Cave), but was reported as
Typhlichthys subterraneus by Garman (05). Eigemann (01) characterized
the specimen as a new genus and named it Troglichthys rosae. Woods
and Inger (02) later placed Troglichthys rosae in the genus
Amblyopsis. The confusion between A. rosae and Typhlichthys still
exists with positive identification possible only by x-ray analysis of
the vertebral column or dissection of the postcleithrum in
Typhlichthys. Actually, the two genera are believed to be of
separate lineages (02). The published report of Typhlichthys
locations in the Springfield Plateau (06) has recently been found to
be A. rosae (07). A. rosae is the only Amblyopsid found in the
Springfield Plateau (08).
Willis and Brown (09) speculated that each cave may represent a
separate evolutionary event. How this would effect species integrity
is uncertain.
Taxonomy - 2 (DRAFT) - Status
Species CAVEFISH, OZARK
Species Id ESIS254003
Date 13 MAR 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Arkansas; State Recognized
T: Federal Threatened
Ornamental
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
The Ozark cavefish (Amblyopsis rosae) has been designated an
Threatened species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973
(50 CFR 17.11; P.L. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1540), as
amended. The species has this status wherever found including the
States of AR, MO, and OK.
This species is protected by the Lacey Act (P.L. 97-79, as
amended; 16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.) which makes it unlawful to import,
export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any wild animal
(alive or dead including parts, products, eggs, or offspring):
(1) in interstate or foreign commerce if taken, possessed,
transported or sold in violation of any State law or
regulation; or
(2) if taken or possessed in violation of any U.S. law,
treaty, or regulation or in violation of Indian tribal law.
It is also unlawful to possess any wild animal (alive or dead
including parts, products, eggs, and offspring) within the U.S.
territorial or special maritime jurisdiction (as defined in
18 U.S.C. 7) that is taken, possessed, transported, or sold in
violation of any State law or regulation, foreign law, or Indian
tribal law.
RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL AGENCIES:
USFWS -Responsible for the management/recovery, listing, and
law enforcement/protection of this species.
USFS -Responsible for the law enforcement/protection of this
species with applicable State and Federal laws on
public lands under their control. Also responsible
for management/recovery on Forest Service lands. The
Forest Service is responsible for integrating
management, protection, and conservation of Federally
listed species into the Forest Planning process
(36 CFR 219.19 and 219.20).
Management practices that would cause detrimental
changes in water temperature or composition, water
course blockage, or sediment deposits within 100 feet
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species CAVEFISH, OZARK
Species Id ESIS254003
Date 13 MAR 96
of the edges of perennial streams, lakes or other
bodies of water are prohibited (36 CFR 219.27(e)).
All Federal agencies have responsibility to ensure that any
action authorized, funded, or carried out by that agency is not likely
to jeopardize the continued existence of the species or result in the
destruction or adverse modification of Critical Habitat (50 CFR 402),
and to utilize their authorities to carry out programs for the
conservation of the species.
STATE STATUSES AND LAWS:
STATE: Arkansas
DESIGNATED STATUS: Recognized Threatened
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: Game and Fish Commission
STATE STATUTES: Amendment 35 to State Constitution
STATE: Missouri
DESIGNATED STATUS: Endangered
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: Department of Wildlife Conservation
STATE STATUTES: Revised, Statutes of Missouri 252-240,
Regulation 3 CFR 10-4.111
STATE: Oklahoma
DESIGNATED STATUS: Recognized Threatened
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: Department of Wildlife Conservation
STATE STATUTES: Sec. 2-135 and Title 29 OK Game and Fish Laws
(Introduced Legislation). Sec 5-412.
INTERNATIONAL STATUSES:
The Ozark cavefish is listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red Data
Book, Vol. 4, 1977.
ECONOMIC STATUSES:
Commercially valuable to aquarists.
83/02/15:48 FR 06752/ - Finding on petition
84/01/31:49 FR 03889/03891 - Proposed rule
84/11/01:49 FR 43965/43969 - Final rule, listed as Threatened
Status - 2 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - AQUATIC
TERRESTRIAL
INLAND AQUATIC
LAND USE -
Residential
Commercial and Services
Industrial
Transportation, communications, and Util
Industrial and Commercial Complexes
Mixed Urban or Built-up Land
Cropland and Pasture
Orchards, Groves, Vineyards, Nurseries,
Confined Feeding Operations
Deciduous Forest Land
Streams and Canals
Reservoirs
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Riverine, upper perennial RB2
Riverine, upper perennial RB1
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
The caves inhabited by Amblyopsis are unique systems. Caves are
well known for constant temperature, and complete darkness. Lacking
light, they are completely dependent upon allochthonous energy sources
(11). This results in low diversity of food and organisms. The most
important sources of this food input in cavefish caves are bats and
flooding (08). Both of these inputs are dependent upon openings.
Because the Myotis grisescens (gray bats) in this area have been
unable to successfully use gated caves, cave gating is not an
alternative in cavefish management.
Windblown and sinkhole introduction of organic matter is also
great in some instances. The maintenence of these cave openings is
essential to the survival of these fish. Cave openings can occur
anywhere. Typically they occur in rock bluffs at the head of a
spring. However, many cavefish caves have entrances in open fields or
forests.
Land use in A. rosae habitat is varied. Two of the known sites
are used as water supplies for trout farms. One is directly under a
dairy farm, and another under a flower farm. One site underlies a
relatively new housing development while two are in the heart of long
established small towns. Both of these towns once used the caves as
municipal water supplies, while another site was once used as the
water supply for a U.S. Army Camp. It is also believed that the water
level of one site may be effected by water levels of a local U.S.
Corps of Engineers reservoir, Grand Lake O' the Cherokees.
Integral to protecting the cave environment is protecting the
caves water supply. This includes the surface drainage basins and
aquifers which feed the caves. Although A. rosae is rarely seen in
surface streams, these streams often lose water to aquifers or "sink"
entirely into caves. Numerous examples of sinking streams are found
in the cavefish range. The karst nature of the Springfield Plateau
results in rapid transfer of surface runoff to the numerous caves with
relatively little filtration. These characteristics also facilitate
Habitat Associations - 1 the movement of pollutants to the cave environment. Therefore,
management of this environment should not only include the cave
itself, but surrounding surface practices as well.
Specific environmental parameter values of caves which are
inhabited by A. rosae are given in Willis (08), and Poulson (12). In
summary of Willis's findings, little variation is seen between caves
in pH (6.0-6.7), turbidity (2.6-15.5 NTU), and temperature (12-16
degrees C). The variation in dissolved oxygen (3.4-11.8 ppm),
conductivity (129-472 umhos), total organic carbon (2.78-57.60 ppm),
alkalinity (30-230 ppm), ammonia (0.01-3.8 ppm), nitrates and nitrites
(1.2-5.8 ppm), and T-phosphorous (0.01-0.16 ppm) indicates fairly wide
ranges of tolerance for these components.
Amblyopsis rosae habitat must include still water due to the
species' negative rheotaxis (i.e., the species avoids currents) (12,
13). In almost all cases the caves which contain A. rosae populations
have unsurveyable areas such as lower flooded passages or siphons
(areas where the ceiling comes down to the water level). The
importance of these areas as refugia are not known; however, they may
be of great importance in caves which receive much traffic.
Habitat Associations - 2 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species CAVEFISH, OZARK
Species Id ESIS254003
Date 13 MAR 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
CARNIVORE
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Detritus
General Arthropods
General Fish
General Amphibia
General Zooplankton
General Crustaceans
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species CAVEFISH, OZARK
Species Id ESIS254003
Date 13 MAR 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Aquatic Features: Springs [flowing]
G Terrestrial Features: Caves, wet
G Terrestrial Features: Caves, dry
G Terrestrial Features: Depressions
G Terrestrial Features: Cliffs/ledges
G Terrestrial Features: Rock outcrops
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species CAVEFISH, OZARK
Species Id ESIS254003
Date 13 MAR 96
LIFE HISTORY
FOOD HABITS:
From the limited food habit studies done on Amblyopsis rosae, it
can be assumed they will eat anything that will fit into their mouths
and is useful. Poulson (12) found copepods, cladocerans, ostracods,
isopods, amphipods, small crayfish, coleopteran larvae, plecopteran
nymphs, crickets, larval salamanders, young of their own species, and
bat guano. This virtually comprises all forms of organic material in
the caves in which the fish were located. Willis (08) and Poulson
(12) give relative food availability data for the various A. rosae
habitats. There is nothing known about food requirements for the
species. However, Poulson (12) reports that because of A. rosae's
low metabolic rate, it is able to go without food for long periods
(401 days before activity ceased). Poulson also found that based on
stomach contents and fat deposits, A. rosae fed less in October and
September. This is also the time of annulus formation.
HOME RANGE/TERRITORY:
No territoriality is known in Amblyopsis rosae. Individuals may
be found in a given area over several months. This is certainly a
form of energy conservation (14).
PERIODICITY:
There is no known periodicity in this species. Observations
have revealed similar numbers at all times of the day and year (14).
MIGRATION PATTERNS:
There is no known migration activity for Amblyopsis rosae.
COVER/SHELTER REQUIREMENTS:
Other than the obvious needs of a cave and water, little is known
about what cover is necessary for Amblyopsis rosae. There is a strong
indication of a negative rheotaxis (12,14). Therefore, there is a
need for still water. The depth at which fish have been observed
ranges from 4 m to 4 cm. Poulson (12) reports a preference for chert
substrate; however, they have often been seen on clay substrate (14).
REPRODUCTIVE SITE REQUIREMENTS:
No requirements for breeding are known for Amblyopsis rosae.
Perhaps the greatest obstacle is finding mates.
REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS:
No breeding behavior has been documented for Amblyopsis rosae,
however, Poulson (13) has published a life history account for the
species. Poulson found (12,13) free swimming fry at 5-6 months of
age, first scales at 10-12 months (length=12-14 mm), first annulus
formation at 19-21 months (length=16-24 mm), first reproduction at
36-48 months (length=36-42 mm), and oldest individuals at 45-57 months
(length=44-52 mm). Poulson (15) now questions his original length of
life estimate and may be off by a factor of 3-4.
Fertilization probably occurs from February to April; however,
it is believed that less than one fifth of the females may breed in
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species CAVEFISH, OZARK
Species Id ESIS254003
Date 13 MAR 96
any given year. Poulson (13) believes that A. rosae may be a
branchial brooder like its congener, A. spelaea. In A. spelaea, young
are carried in the gill cavity until they lose their yolk sac, a total
of 4-5 months. The mean number of ova per female is 23 (12).
PARENTAL CARE:
The only evidence of parental care is in that of Amblyopsis
spelaea, the northern cavefish. A. Spelaea is a branchial brooder,
carrying the eggs and fry in its gill chamber from fertilization to
loss of yolk sac. This is a period of 4-5 months. Poulson (12,13)
has proposed this behavior for Amblyopsis rosae also.
POPULATION BIOLOGY:
Very little is known about how populations of Amblyopsis rosae
may change through time. The largest known population has been
surveyed on two separate occasions at 97 and 100 individuals (08).
All other locations have been counted at less than twelve individuals
with two sites having only one fish each (08). Because all of these
caves have areas that are unsurveyable, there is the possibility of
more fish. Poulson (12) constructed age distribution tables; however,
the usefulness of these is questionable since they may be off by a
factor of 3-4 (15). Poulson's old data corrected by a factor of 3-4
indicates a maximum life span of 12-16 years.
With the low reproductive rate (r=0.002) (12), low numbers per
population and few populations, the species has a very low recovery
potential.
SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
Amblyopsis rosae is highly dependent upon the gray bat, Myotis
grisescens, for importation of guano. A. rosae may eat bat guano
directly; however, it is probably more important as the base of a
longer food chain. Poulson (12,13) found A. rosae's diet contained,
by volume, 80% copepods. This indicates a dependence on these
microcrustaceans. Willis (08) found that of the 13 caves which
contained cavefish, 9 also contained troglobitic crayfish. However,
the one cave that contained two thirds of the fish did not have
crayfish. The nature of cave crayfish interactions are not known
other than cavefish occasionally eat cave crayfish young. Cave
crayfish are also capable of catching and eating adult A. rosae (14).
OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
None.
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species CAVEFISH, OZARK
Species Id ESIS254003
Date 13 MAR 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations
Beneficial Maintaining/Controlling Water Flow
Beneficial Controlling water levels
Beneficial Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas
Beneficial Land Acquisition
Beneficial Restricting Poaching
Adverse Harassment/Vandalism/Indiscriminate Killing
Existing Harassment/Vandalism/Indiscriminate Killing
Adverse Collecting
Existing Collecting
Adverse Spelunking
Existing Spelunking
Adverse Food Supply Reduction
Existing Food Supply Reduction
Adverse Inherent Reproductive Characteristics
Existing Inherent Reproductive Characteristics
Adverse Low Gene Pool
Existing Low Gene Pool
Adverse Groundwater drawdown
Existing Groundwater drawdown
Adverse Applying pesticides
Existing Applying pesticides
Adverse Environmental Contamination/Pollution
Existing Environmental Contamination/Pollution
Adverse Competition
Existing Competition
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
Many of the reasons for the status of Amblyopsis rosae are linked
to inherent biological traits of the species, (i.e. low reproductive
rate, small population size, high degree of specialization) (08).
Those traits reduce species stability. Perhaps, more important is the
attention this species has attracted from amateur and scientific
collectors. Many scientific collections of every fish in a particular
cave have been made (10).
Because there is no primary production in caves, the energy and
nutrient supplies of the cave ecosystem are based upon what is brought
in from the outside. The closing of cave entrances and loss of bat
colonies greatly reduce this food input. Willis and Brown (09)
reported 86% of the cavefish seen were in caves which had colonies of
the endangered species, Myotis grisescens (gray bat), present. A.
rosae is dependent upon Myotis grisescens or some other source for
energy/nutrient input. Eleven other cavefish caves had some other
source of organic enrichment.
Although it has not been confirmed, it is thought (08,09) that
ground water pollution may be responsible for the erradication of
some populations near Springfield, Missouri. Another problem in the
A. rosae range is ground water draw down. How this has effected the
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species CAVEFISH, OZARK
Species Id ESIS254003
Date 13 MAR 96
cavefish is unknown; however, many caves in the area which once
contained water are now dry.
The effect of disturbance (i.e. walking through the cave) is also
unconfirmed. It is known that many caves which once contained
cavefish, but now contain few or none, are often highly used by cave
explorers; and that caves which still have many cavefish are protected
or relatively unused. In addition to the above, potential threats
include surface chemical spills, high pesticide use, and competition
with newly invading surface species.
APPROVED PLAN:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1986. A Recovery Plan for the
Ozark Cavefish (Amblyopsis rosae). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Atlanta, GA. 42 pp.
The Recovery Plan for the Ozark cavefish specifically recommends:
1) Study of local and regional hydrological patterns to determine
the recharge area and the extent of continuous habitat.
2) Provide protection and management for the recovery of caves.
Protection of habitat may include conservation agreements or land
acquisition; limiting human access by installing gates to decrease
disturbance by cavers; and, developing and implementing protection
strategies to prohibit collecting.
Management of the habitat may include the introduction of bats
into the uncolonized recovery caves, and an educational program for
spelunkers promoting awareness of the harm caving can inflict upon
cavefish.
3) Develop and implement a monitoring program to monitor water
quality. Implementation may involve maintaining the water table and
water flow. It may also be necessary to monitor development as it
may effect water quality.
The Nature Conservancy and Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission
have purchased the cave with the best Ozark cavefish population. The
Missouri Department of Wildlife Conservation owns a cave with a small
population of Ozark cavefish. The Fish and Wildlife Service is
negotiating the purchase of the cave with a good population of Ozark
cavefish.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission owns a cave in eastern
Benton County, AR, that was discovered in 1987.
Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - References
Species CAVEFISH, OZARK
Species Id ESIS254003
Date 13 MAR 96
References
***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****
01 Eigenmann, C. H. 1898. A new blind fish. Proc. Ind. Acad. Sci.
1897:231.
02 Woods, L. P. and R. E. Inger. 1957. The cave, spring, and swamp
fishes of the family Amblyopsidae for the central and eastern
United States. Am. Midl. Nat. 58:232-256.
03 Cooper, L. E. and R. A. Kuehne. 1974. Speoplatyrhinus poulsoni,
a new genus and species of subterranean fish from Alabama.
Copeia 1972:486-493.
04 Pflieger, W. L. 1975. The Fishes of Missouri. Missouri
Dept. Conserv. 343 pp.
05 Garman, S. 1889. Cave animals from southwestern Missouri. Bull.
Mus. Comp. Zool. 17:232.
06 Hall, G. F. 1956. Additions to the fish fauna of Oklahoma with a
summary of introduced species. Southwest. Nat. 1(1):16-26.
07 Mayden, R. L. and F. B. Cross. 1983. Reevaluation of Oklahoma
records of the southern cavefish Typhlichthys subterraneus Girard
(Amblyopsidae). Southwest. Nat. 28(4):471-473.
08 Willis, L. D. 1984. Distribution and habitat requirements of the
Ozark cavefish, Amblyopsis rosae. M.S. Thesis. Univ. Ark. 25 pp.
09 Willis, L. D. and A. V. Brown. In press. Distribution and habitat
requirements of the Ozark cavefish, Amblyopsis rosae. Am. Midl.
Nat.
10 Museum Records (Tulane #10719, 16723, 11602, and 16561).
11 Barr, T. C. 1968. Cave ecology and the evolution of troglobites.
Evolut. Biol. 2:35-102.
12 Poulson, T. L. 1961. Cave adaptation in amblyopsid fishes. Ph.D.
Dissertation. Univ. Mich. 185 pp. Univ. microfilms. Ann Arbor,
Michigan.
13 Poulson, T. L. 1963. Cave adaption in amblyopsid fishes. Am.
Midl. Nat. 70:257-290.
14 Willis, L. D. Unpublished data. Dept. Biology, Va. Polytech.
Inst. St. Univ., Blacksburg, VA 24060.
15 Poulson, T. L. 1982. Personal communication.
***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****
01 Willis, L. D. 1984. Distribution and habitat requirements of the
Ozark cavefish, Amblyopsis rosae. M.S. Thesis. Univ. Arkansas.
25 pp.
02 Willis, L. D. and A. V. Brown. In Press. Distribution and habitat
requirements of the Ozark cavefish.
03 Quinn, J. H. 1957. Plateau surface of the Ozarks. Ark. Acad.
Sci. 11:36-43.
04 Unofficial sightings. Reported by Tom Aley, Ozark Underground
Laboratories, Protem, MO. Presented to the Missouri Department of
Conservation.
References - 1