San Luis Reservoir

Ecosystem Overview

The San Luis Reservoir ecosystem supports 12 documented wildlife species across 10 taxonomic genera. Located in Merced County, California, this area provides critical habitat with diverse natural communities. The location hosts 3 frequently observed species and 2 occasionally documented species, creating a balanced ecosystem with both resident and visiting wildlife. While Merced nearby has 86% more documented species, San Luis Reservoir offers unique wildlife observation opportunities. This location ranks #3 for species diversity among 9 Merced County County natural areas, placing it in the 67th percentile for biodiversity.

Biodiversity Highlights

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

Regional Rank

Out of 9 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common3 species

Common4 species

Occasional3 species

Rare2 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#3 of 9 locations

67th percentile for diversity

vs. Merced

-86% species diversity

Ecosystem Overview

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Biodiversity Highlights

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Species Distribution

Very Common‌

Common‌

Occasional‌

Rare‌

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

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Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 12 total documented species.

Podiceps nigricollis

black-necked grebe

Very Common2 obs.

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

American White Pelican

Very Common2 obs.

Sympetrum corruptum

Variegated Meadowhawk

Very Common1 obs.

Strymon melinus

Cotton Square Borer

Very Common1 obs.

Fulica americana

American Coot

Very Common1 obs.

Larus delawarensis

Ring-billed Gull

Common1 obs.

Larus californicus

California Gull

Common1 obs.

Podilymbus podiceps

Pied-billed grebe

Common1 obs.

Baccharis pilularis

coyotebrush

Common1 obs.

Larus smithsonianus

American Herring Gull

Common1 obs.

Otospermophilus beecheyi

California ground squirrel

Common1 obs.

Ardea alba

Great Egret

Occasional1 obs.

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Most Common Species

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Want the Complete Field Guide?

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Get Your Personalized Field Guide

Download a professional PDF field guide featuring all the species found in San Luis Reservoir. Perfect for outdoor adventures, education, and nature exploration.

$6.99

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Download a professional PDF field guide featuring all the species found in San Luis Reservoir. Perfect for outdoor adventures, education, and nature exploration.

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

-52%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Merced County County, California

Nearby Natural Areas

Merced

Importance: 0.46

88 species

-86% vs. current

Merced County

Importance: 0.44

100 species

-88% vs. current

Los Banos

Importance: 0.36

8 species

+50% vs. current

Atwater

Importance: 0.35

2 species

+500% vs. current

Diamond Lake

Importance: 0.35

1 species

+1100% vs. current

Pig Pond

Importance: 0.35

1 species

+1100% vs. current

Upper Ruth Lake

Importance: 0.35

1 species

+1100% vs. current

Gustine

Importance: 0.33

1 species

+1100% vs. current

About This Comparison

These comparisons are based on documented wildlife observations from citizen science data. Locations with higher species counts may have more observation activity, different habitat types, or larger coverage areas. Regional rankings help identify biodiversity hotspots and unique natural areas within Merced County County.

Regional Comparison

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Regional Ranking

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Species Count

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vs. Regional Average

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Nearby Natural Areas

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About This Comparison

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

-52%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Merced County County, California

Nearby Natural Areas

Merced

Importance: 0.46

88 species

-86% vs. current

Merced County

Importance: 0.44

100 species

-88% vs. current

Los Banos

Importance: 0.36

8 species

+50% vs. current

Atwater

Importance: 0.35

2 species

+500% vs. current

Diamond Lake

Importance: 0.35

1 species

+1100% vs. current

Pig Pond

Importance: 0.35

1 species

+1100% vs. current

Upper Ruth Lake

Importance: 0.35

1 species

+1100% vs. current

Gustine

Importance: 0.33

1 species

+1100% vs. current

About This Comparison

Ecosystem Overview

Biodiversity Highlights

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

Regional Rank

Out of 9 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common3 species

Common4 species

Occasional3 species

Rare2 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#3 of 9 locations

67th percentile for diversity

vs. Merced

-86% species diversity

Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 12 total documented species.

Podiceps nigricollis

black-necked grebe

Very Common2 obs.

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

American White Pelican

Very Common2 obs.

Sympetrum corruptum

Variegated Meadowhawk

Very Common1 obs.

Strymon melinus

Cotton Square Borer

Very Common1 obs.

Fulica americana

American Coot

Very Common1 obs.

Larus delawarensis

Ring-billed Gull

Common1 obs.

Larus californicus

California Gull

Common1 obs.

Podilymbus podiceps

Pied-billed grebe

Common1 obs.

Baccharis pilularis

coyotebrush

Common1 obs.

Larus smithsonianus

American Herring Gull

Common1 obs.

Otospermophilus beecheyi

California ground squirrel

Common1 obs.

Ardea alba

Great Egret

Occasional1 obs.

Want the Complete Field Guide?

Get all 12 species with 3-4 high-quality images each, detailed descriptions, and a downloadable PDF for offline use.

Premium field guide includes identification tips, seasonal patterns, and professional layout optimized for field use.