Several species of darters that live in the Ozarks exist nowhere else in the world. Many of the sunfish species in the Ozarks are sensitive to degraded water chemistry or habitat. Members of the sunfish family, especially smallmouth bass, are important game fish in Ozark streams. Spotted bass, largemouth bass, longear sunfish, Ozark bass, shadow bass, and rock bass are less important, either because of fewer numbers or smaller size. Smallmouth bass, an important game fish, are sensitive to degraded habitat or water chemistry.
Darters also comprise a smaller percentage of the communities at sites in agricultural basins.
Darters generally are considered to be sensitive to water-chemistry or habitat degradation. The Niangua darter, which is found in only a few tributaries of the Osage River in central Missouri, is a federally listed threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Darters also are sensitive to degraded habitat or water chemistry. This Niangua darter is one of seven species of darter found only in the Ozarks. Fish community composition appears to be related to stream size, canopy angle, substrate, and water chemistry.