What is happening in the boreal after a disturbance?   
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     It is important to note that decay is not uniform. it depends on many factors like size and species, position, ground branches and if it was dead or alive before falling. When looking at the trees that are more likely to be affected by a wind disturbance you have to look at age, shade tolerance, and health. Species like black spruce (Pinus mariana) that are shade tolerant and late succession are less affected by wind throw compared to early succession and shade intolerant species like those of the birch species (Betula papyrifera) , and have a lower morality.

Shade tolerance, kind of a big deal:    

     ​Shade tolerance is linked to wind firmness, a prime comparison of a shade tolerant and shade intolerant tree structure could be one of a birch (Betula papyrifera) tree compared to a spruce (Pinus mariana) tree. You notice that a Betula papyrifera, like most shade intolerant have a rapid growth, especially height, and lack structural growth like the lower branches of a Pinus mariana. Therefore, making it more susceptible to wind throw then the leading shade tolerant species. It has been shown that an area affected by wind disturbance becomes more homogeneous then ones that are undisturbed. This is because when the wind throw occurs it is more likely to weed out the forest of the shade intolerant/ early succession species, leaving the ones that can tolerate wind standing and being more homogeneous.