Grant to improve conservation of Ozark cavefish
Dr. Daniel Beckman, Missouri State University professor of biology, was awarded a $42,190 grant from the Missouri Department of Conservation. Beckman received the grant for the “Ozark Cave Fish Distribution and Life History Related to Mining in Jasper and Newton Counties” project, which will come to an end by June 2011.
The project will aid in understanding the distribution and basic life history of Ozark cavefish. Beckman and his team will perform water quality analyses, surveys of potential fish sites, and measure life history characteristics of Ozark cavefish.
The project will cover studies of fish growth, sighting frequency and physiological status through time, with an emphasis on impacted areas such as Joplin as well as un-impacted areas.
“We will carry out surveys for aquatic animals and water quality in caves in and near areas that have been impacted by mining in southwest Missouri,” said Beckman.
Funds for the project will also assist the appointment of research assistants, who will carry out field work, and identify needs for equipment and supplies. “Progress to date has been to map sites where Ozark cavefish have been located in the past and to identify potential locations where surveys might be made,” said Beckman.
