Overview
Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, mussels, crayfish, and many plants are found in the James River Basin. You can find more information about the plants and animals discussed below through the Missouri Fish and Wildlife Information Service at http://www.conservation.mo.gov/nathis/mofwis/search.htm. Note the following facts about the importance of clean water to plant and animal life:

• If water in a river is polluted, this can harm the plants and animals living in the river basin.

• Too much soil in the river makes the water cloudy, restricting plants from receiving the sunlight they need to make food and grow

• Too much soil in the river can smother fish and amphibian eggs.

• If there hazardous chemicals are present in the water, this can poison the animals that live in or drink the water.

• Fish living in polluted water may become unsafe for people to eat.

• If the water is too warm, animals in the river will be stressed.

• If there is too much algae in the river, there will not be enough oxygen in the water for the animals.

• Low oxygen levels in the water can put additional stress on aquatic organisms.

In the James River Basin there are a few problems for plants and animals. The diversity (number of types) of aquatic insects and fish is less than what it used to be. There are also less amphibians like frogs and salamanders living in the river. This shows that some animals are having a hard time living in the water. Dams and stream channelization can block fish migrating up and down the steam and cause changes in habitat characteristics for some plants and animals.