Working on this project was a great way to learn how to design a research project, and then also getting to implement that research idea. I was able to stick with my original research design, aside from adding more plots to the sample than I originally planned. I was able to collect lots of good data that helped in answering my research question. Engaging in this research project has increased my appreciation for how ecological theory is developed and the amount of time and planning that goes into an ecological research project. Completing the project in sections and receiving feedback all the way through was very beneficial to ensuring the project was completed efficiently and important details were not missed. Overall, I enjoyed completing this project and I think the course allowed a project like this to be completed in a good way to learn all the aspects of how ecological theory is developed.