How many replicates did you sample?
For my study, I will sample 10 replicates per gradient (4 treatment areas in total), for a total of 40 replicates. So far, I have collected 10 replicates.
Have you had any problems implementing your sampling design?
I encountered a few issues. First, I realized that my sample unit, which was initially a snowberry plant, was too large for the type of data I wanted to collect (size of berries). Therefore I changed my sample unit to a berry cluster (snowberries grow in clusters). I also noticed that instead of simply having 4 zones with different light exposures, my study area had >10 sections of different levels of exposure. Thus I ended up evaluating the level of sun exposure in each section separately, then grouping them into 4 categories (0-2 hours of direct sunlight/day, 3-5 hours, 6-8 hours, and >8 hours). To do so, I had to determine the exact number of hours of direct sunlight that the sections were receiving per day, which could only be done during sunny days. It took a week in total to gather this information.
Have you noticed any ancillary patterns that make you reflect on your hypothesis?
I realized that the time of the year during which I collect my data influences my results – sunlight exposure changes across the growing season, which impacts the size of snowberries. This isn’t necessarily a problem though, because the whole data collection process will be completed within the same week.
One factor that I hadn’t considered initially is that there is significant wildlife around my study area (birds, squirrels, deer, butterflies…), and there’s a chance that these animals feed on snowberries. If that’s the case, their feeding habits (and size preferences) may influence berries’ size.