Tropical montane trees have different abilities to handle shade, affecting their growth and survival. Researchers studied six tree species in different light conditions to see what traits make some trees better at tolerating shade. They found that shade-tolerant trees put more energy into leaves and branches, while shade-intolerant trees focus on stems. Leaf traits like respiration and photosynthesis didn't change much with shade tolerance. Shade-tolerant trees have higher leaf temperatures because they don't lose as much water through their leaves. Overall, the way trees distribute their energy throughout their bodies seems to be the main factor in how well they can handle shade in tropical forests.