How hydrogeology has shaped the ecology of Missouri's Ozark cavefish, Amblyopsis rosae, and southern cavefish, Typhlichthys subterraneus: insights onthe sightless from understanding the underground

Two troglobitic fishes of conservation concern that inhabit Missouri are th e Ozark and southern cavefishes, Amblyopsis rosae and Typhlichthys subterra neus, respectively. These species inhabit the groundwater of karstified bed rock in the Springfield and Salem plateau regions of the state, respectivel y. These two areas differ substantially - geographically, geologically, and hydrologically. This paper explores how these differences interact in shap ing (1) the habitat in which these two species dwell, (2) the resulting eco logical constraints that the fishes face, (3) how their ecologies and popul ations reflect these constraints, and (4) how conservation and management e fforts may need to be tailored to best compliment the unique challenges tha t each species presents.