Pandora Reservoirs

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 53.1256, -3.8361

Description

Description A group of five quite small, shallow reservoirs constructed about 1874. All are of ecological interest and illustrate a significant gradation in terms of pH, alkalinity, nutrient levels and biological productivity. An interesting variation in the lake areas occupied by emergent plant species, particularly water horsetail Equisetum fluviatile, and floating-leaved aquatic species, particularly Floating Pondweed Potamogeton natans is apparent. One lake is particularly rich in desmid species. Remarks: Within Snowdonia National Park

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
water horsetail Equisetum fluviatile LC herb equisetaceae
broadleaved pondweed Potamogeton natans LC herb potamogetonaceae

Insects to look out for

These moths, butterflies and beetles are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.

SpeciesStatusVia host-plant
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Equisetum fluviatile

Host-plant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.