Ozark Cavefish National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
The Ozark Cavefish National Wildlife Refuge is a 40 acre (0.16 km2) National Wildlife Refuge
located in Lawrence County, Missouri, twenty miles (32 km) west of Springfield
. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service
acquired the land in 1991 to protect the endangered
Ozark Cavefish
.
, whose droppings
provide the essential nutrient source for the caves.
National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge is a designation for certain protected areas of the United States managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge System is the world's premiere system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife and plants...
located in Lawrence County, Missouri, twenty miles (32 km) west of Springfield
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
acquired the land in 1991 to protect the endangered
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
Ozark Cavefish
Ozark Cavefish
The Ozark cavefish, Amblyopsis rosae, is a small subterranean freshwater fish native to the United States. It has been listed as a threatened species in the United States since 1984, the IUCN lists the species as vulnerable. While the Ozark cavefish is listed as threatened by the U.S...
.
Wildlife and protected species
In addition to the Ozark cavefish, Turnback cave provides habitat for the endangered gray batGray Bat
Myotis grisescens once flourished in caves all over the southeastern United States, but due to human disturbance, Gray Bat populations declined severely during the early and mid portion of the 20th century. At one cave alone, the Georgetown Cave in Northwestern Alabama, populations declined from...
, whose droppings
Guano
Guano is the excrement of seabirds, cave dwelling bats, and seals. Guano manure is an effective fertilizer due to its high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen and also its lack of odor. It was an important source of nitrates for gunpowder...
provide the essential nutrient source for the caves.
External links
- Ozark Cavefish National Wildlife Refuge
- Recreation.gov overview
- Endangered Species Guidesheet, Missouri Department of Conservation
- Ghost Fish of the Ozarks, by Tracy Crede