The study looked at how different tree species adapt to their environment in terms of growth and dealing with herbivores. They found that trees that grow faster are less tolerant to shade but more resistant to herbivores. Shade tolerance is linked to how well a tree can photosynthesize, while resistance to herbivores is related to traits like leaf size and protein content. Overall, trees use different strategies to deal with shade and herbivores, affecting their growth rates in different ways.