The study looked at how carbon isotopes and pigments in a cypress tree change based on different directions. They found that the tree had higher carbon isotope values in the north and lower values in the west. The levels of chlorophyll, carotenoids, and flavonoids in the leaves followed the same pattern as the carbon isotopes. This suggests that the tree adapts to different light levels in its environment over a long period of time. The changes in carbon isotopes were due to how light affects the tree's photosynthesis and respiration.