The study looked at how different levels of tree density in a pine plantation affect tree growth, understory plants, and carbon storage over 40 years. Thinning the trees didn't affect growth much unless there were tree-killing beetles present. Thinning the trees more actually increased tree deaths. The amount of understory plants didn't change much with tree thinning, but the types of plants did. Overall, managing the plantation intensively or less intensively didn't make a big difference in carbon storage, but larger trees store carbon better in case of a wildfire.