Despite thorough planning, I encountered several challenges during the implementation phase of the experiment. One significant challenge was the variability in environmental conditions within and between study locations, which required adaptations to our sampling strategy. For example, unforeseen weather events such as heavy snow showers and cover impacted data collection schedules, requiring us to adjust sampling dates to minimize bias as well as uniformity of samples of blue spruce trees and their distribution in the different environment gradients called for readjusting sampling strategies. Engaging in the practice of ecology definitely impacted me in a positive manner and made me have another level of appreciation for how ecological theory is developed and the intricacies that go with it thinking back on how my initial observation and hypothesis for blue spruce trees and it’s overall health although for the majority still holding ground had so many other abiotic and biotic processes at play and got me thinking how much variability there can be.