Life Across the Credit River Watershed from Day to Night
Biodiversity doesn’t stand still. Across the Credit River Watershed, life is constantly shifting, responding to light, temperature and time of day. From early morning birdsong to the quiet movement of nocturnal wildlife, each part of the day supports different species and ecological processes.
Together, these daily rhythms keep ecosystems functioning. Celebrate International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22 by taking a closer look at how biodiversity moves through the watershed over the course of a single day.
Wildlife Activities in the Early Morning
As the sun rises, the watershed fills with sound. In spring, migratory birds like bobolink and eastern meadowlark sing from open meadows, while warblers move through forest canopies after travelling thousands of kilometres from Central and South America. In wetlands, the overnight chorus of spring peepers and chorus frogs lingers into the early morning, with a few determined callers still sounding off at first light, as the day begins.
Pollinators begin to emerge, with species like the common eastern bumble bee and eastern tiger swallowtail moving between native wildflowers that provide essential nectar and pollen. This activity supports plant reproduction and the habitats that depend on it.
Midday Activities are Perfect for Systems in Motion
By midday, the pace shifts from sound to process. Native bees move through meadow habitats, pollinating plants that will produce seeds later in the season. Along streams, fish species like the Iowa darter and northern hog sucker move along the streambed and through the current, feeding and foraging in clean, well-oxygenated water.
Plants are also at work. Native trees like sugar maple and wetland plants such as cattail absorb carbon, release oxygen and help regulate temperatures across the landscape through photosynthesis, while also helping regulate temperatures across the landscape by providing shade and cooling the air through transpiration. Healthy soils support this process by storing water and nutrients. Midday activity drives the systems that support clean water, climate regulation and habitat stability.
Dusk Sees a Shift in Balance
As daylight fades, activity shifts again. Amphibians like the northern leopard frog become more active in wetland habitats, while bats such as the native big brown bat begin feeding on insects overhead. Fish like the white sucker continue moving through streams as temperatures cool.
This transition period connects daytime and nighttime food webs. As temperatures drop and light levels change, energy continues to move through the ecosystem in new ways. Insects that were active during the day become part of evening feeding cycles, while cooler, oxygen-rich waters support increased movement in aquatic systems. These shifts help maintain ecological balance across habitats as the watershed moves into night.
Energy continues to move through the ecosystem, even as the visible landscape quiets. Dusk supports species that help regulate insect populations and maintain ecological balance across habitats.
Night-time is for the Unseen Work
Long after trails grow quiet, biodiversity continues. Nocturnal species like the great horned owl hunt through forested areas, while small mammals like the striped skunk move along the forest floor. In wetlands, amphibians like the gray treefrog and green frog continue calling.
Beneath it all, microorganisms in soil and water break down organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. Native fungi like turkey tail and artist’s conk decompose fallen wood, returning nutrients to the soil that support new plant growth. This unseen work supports the growth and health of the landscape. Nighttime processes sustain nutrient cycling, population balance and long-term ecosystem resilience.
One Watershed, Always Connected
Although these changes happen throughout the day, they are deeply connected. The health of the Credit River Watershed depends on biodiversity across forests, wetlands, meadows and waterways. When these systems are intact, they support clean water, climate resilience and thriving communities. Protecting biodiversity means protecting these connections.
There are many ways to help biodiversity thrive in your community:
- Plant native trees, shrubs and wildflowers
- Install bird boxes or create pollinator habitat
- Enhance forests, meadows or wetlands on your property through our restoration programs
- Participate in stewardship events across the watershed
- Reduce unnecessary outdoor lighting at night to help protect nocturnal species and support natural behaviours like feeding, migration and reproduction
Biodiversity isn’t just something to observe. It’s something we’re part of. This International Day for Biological Diversity, take a moment, morning, noon or night, to notice the life around you and consider the role you can play in protecting it.
Share your biodiversity photos with us on Facebook, Instagram and X.
By Kimberley Laird, Associate, Marketing and Communications
Excellent description of biodiversity and timing in the Credit River area.
Kimberley, thank you so much for a really wonderful article about bio-diversity. 🦋Happy 🐝May 22nd🐞!
I love the way you describe the diversity and interspecies activities throughout a full day! I better understand why biodiversity is so important! I have sent your article to my granddaughter to learn and appreciate.