Subterranean Ecology Institute is receiving funds from the Cave Conservancy Foundation which will allow a team of cave biologists, the Stygobromus Working Group (SWG), led by project PIs Mike Slay, Megan Porter and Matt Niemiller to expand conservation efforts in the Ozarks karst region. Targeting Ozark subterranean amphipod species, the SWG biologists will obtain specimens which will serve as morphological and molecular reference material for systematic studies. Additional, the research team will conduct conservation assessments for each Ozark Stygobromus species to highlight species and populations of greatest conservation concern, and to ascertain threats and factors associated with extinction risk. A further benefit of the project will be the opportunities made available to train scientists, resource managers, and other interested parties in skills needed for identification of cave-adapted amphipods.