I want to know the effect of altitude on earthworm distribution. Is there any species specific to a specific altitudinal range? I have collected earthworms from >4600m asl. I don't expect to find earthworms from such a very high altitude. Is there any literature about this topic? Please share if yes.
Earthworms have been found in very northerly regions so it would make sense that they could occur at quite high elevations. While I do not know of any at that elevation I would suggest you do a scholar.google search using specific terms such as [ "high altitude" earthworms ] or [ "high elevation" earthworms ] and you will find plenty or papers to check.
Hmar,
check out my paper on earthworms in the Smoky Mountains (1972). bull TallTimbers Res Stn. Copy on file in Researchgate.
I saw this on Researchgate here. It may be useful
Species richness and high altitude distribution of earth- worms in the Khibiny Massive (Murmansk Region) (Oligochaeta)
April 2013
DOI: 10.13140/2.1.3734.7841
Conference: Advances in Earthworm Taxonomy VI (Annelida: Oligochaeta)At: Palmeira de Faro, Portugal
I. V. ZenkovaI. V. ZenkovaIrina RapoportIrina Rapoport
This paper can be downloaded from Researchgate:
Reynolds, J.W. 1972. The activity and distribution of earthworms in tulip poplar stands in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Sevier County, Tennessee (Acanthodrilidae, Lumbricidae and Megascolecidae). Contr. N. Amer. Earthworms, No. 2, Bull. Tall Timbers Res. Stn., No. 11: 41– 54.