Flora and Fauna at Parys Mountain

Spiders  (21 March 1998)

Alopecosa barbipes                SH441902

Zygiella x-notata                     SH441902

More information

Metellina mengei                     SH451904

Erigone atra                            SH451904

Porhomma pygmaeum            SH451904

Arctosa perita                        SH452905

Segestria senoculata               SH452905

Centromerita concinna           SH451904

Lepthyphantes tenuis              SH451904

Savignia frontata                    SH451904

Lichens are small plants composed of an intimate association of fungi and algae. Lichen found at Mynydd Parys include unusual and scares species able to tolerate the high levels of normally toxic metals such as copper, Zinc and bismuth which is found here.
Natural rock outcrops rich in heavy metals must have occurred in Wales at one time, and supported these unusual lichen communities. So extensive has exploitation of this resource been that no significant natural examples are known to survive. In order to protect these species, man made habitats must be selected. Mynydd parys is one of the few metal mines working in Britain which have a relatively undisturbed since mining ceased and lie in areas with relatively low atmospheric pollution. As a result it supports a rich and unusual lichen flora, including a range of species and communities which are restricted to mineraslised substrates. More than 125 Lichen species have been recorded from the minerlaised substrates alone; a number of these are very scares in Wales being restricted to metal rich substrates and at least one species (Leciea sp) is new to Britain and possibly new to Science.
The flora of the old spoil heaps and metalliferous rock outcrops is dominated by Lichens of the community acarosporion sinopicae which are particularly characteristic of rocks rich in iron sulphide. The most abundant species here include Acarospora sinopica, Porpidia tuberculosa and Rhizocarpon obscuratum, whilts the notable species, Rhizocarpon furfurosom is a frequent associate.
The ruined mine buildings and walls provide furher distintive microhabitats, such as copper rich mortar filled crevices in which a community characterised by Psilolechia leprosa occurs. other distintive mettalphpyte species which have been recorded include Tremolecia atrata, stereocaulon leucophaeopsis and lecanora epanora.
In lessmetal rich areas terricolous lichens are found associated with heather Callun vulgaris. The abundant Cladonia species in this community include C.fragilissima in one of only 3 know localities in Wales.
Nine areas of the mountain, around the great open cast, the windmill, and old mine buildings have been selected as biological SSSIs.

Forficula auricularia              common earwig

Cicindela campestris               green tiger beetle

Coccinella septempunctata     seven-spot ladybird

Micrambe vini                         a silken fungus beetle

Lochmaea crataegi                 hawthorn leaf beetle

Exapion ulicis                         gorse weevil

Protopirapion atratulum        a seed weevil

Sitona regensteinensis             a weevil

Phyllobius pyri                        common leaf weevil

Micrelus ericae                        small heather weevil

Anthonomus pedicularis         a weevil

30 birds seen at Parys Mountain in 2002 (Paul Branch)