Assessing the distribution and habitat needs of the least darter

Isolated populations may benefit from different conservation and management activities. The least darter is a species of conservation concern that has two isolated populations occupying parts of the Arbuckle Mountain and Ozark Highlands ecoregions. The goal of this research is to assess different environmental factors at multiple spatial scales to determine the relations among microhabitats, reaches, and stream segments and occurrence of least darter and sympatric species. Results from this study could include identification of likely populations that can be used as the foundation for a targeted monitoring program and stream segments that likely contain spring locations.