Working on this field project has given me both a better understating of ecological processes and a greater appreciation for those who contribute to projects like this on a regular basis. I did not run into any problems with the implementation of my project design, but I did have to make alterations to my projects focus along the way after analyzing the data that I was collecting. I originally planned on analyzing the data from five points, however, after sampling I found that only one of those locations had turtles present, which was one of the factors that I was analyzing.
Engaging in the practice of ecology has strengthened my appreciation for how ecological theory is developed. The amount of time and attention to detail that goes into ecological projects is substantial and should not go unnoticed. The feedback and assistance that I have received throughout this project has made it go much smoother.