The Distribution of Lumbricidae in an Area of Pennine Moorland (Moor House Nature Reserve)

Areas of Britain at altitudes approaching and above the tree line have a distinctive and reasonably well-known flora but their fauna is not known to the same extent. It was thought that the distribution of Lumbricidae in such an area might be limited and that a knowledge of any limitations would indicate some general requirements of the family and possible differences between species. To this end an investigation was made of the Nature Conservancy Reserve, N.R. 80, Moor House, situated in the northern Pennines approximately 11 miles (17 6 km) south of Alston, Cumberland. The Reserve is adjacent to and south-east of Cross Fell and the source of the River Tees and includes Great Dun, Little Dun and Knock Fells. The bulk of the area lies above 1800 ft (549 m); it has a characteristically cold, wet climate (Manley 1952) and is overlain with peat bog in various stages of decay and regeneration. Mull soils, generally accepted as the typical lumbricid habitat, are rare in extent, being restricted to the banks of streams and occasional limestone outcrops.