典型森林和草地生态系统呼吸各组分间的相互关系

生态系统呼吸是陆地生态系统碳收支的重要组成部分,分析其组分间的相互关系对理解生态系统呼吸过程和精确评价生态系统碳收支具有重要意义,也是当前碳循环研究工作的一大难点。本研究利用ChinaFLUX的长白山温带针阔混交林（CBS）,鼎湖山亚热带常绿阔叶林（DHS）和海北灌丛草甸（HBGC）三个典型生态系统的通量观测数据,采用经验统计方法,分析了其在中国典型生态系统中的适用性及敏感性,揭示了生态系统呼吸各组分的动态变化特征及相互关系。结果表明：采用本研究中的呼吸组分拆分方法所获结果与理论推测及实测数据大致相同,拆分结果对净初级生产力与总初级生产力的比值（NPP/GPP）较为敏感,NPP/GPP变化0.1时,自养呼吸在生态系统呼吸中的比例（Ra/RE）改变0.05。各生态系统中,生态系统呼吸及其组分在年内均表现出明显的单峰型变化特征,在夏季生长旺盛的时节达到最大值。异养呼吸与生态系统呼吸的比值（Rh/RE）也具有明显的季节变化,但在生态系统间表现出明显差异,CBS和HBGC分别表现出先增大后减小和先减小后增大的变化趋势,DHS则相对稳定,在0.5附近波动, Ra/RE的季节动态与Rh/RE相反。在年总量上,HBGC主要通过异养呼吸向大气排放CO2,异养呼吸占生态系统呼吸的60%,而CBS和DHS的自养呼吸和异养呼吸所占比重大致相似,异养呼吸占生态系统呼吸的49%。这说明,该统计学模型可以用来进行生态系统呼吸组分的拆分,进而可以为生态系统碳循环过程的精细研究提供参考数据,但今后应加强NPP/GPP的测定,以提高生态系统呼吸拆分的精度。     

冠层分层数对净生态系统生产力模拟精度的影响——以长白山温带针阔混交林为例

以2003—2008年常规气象梯度观测数据为驱动数据,应用多层模型模拟了不同冠层分层数下长白山温带针阔混交林净生态系统生产力(NEP),对比涡度相关通量观测数据,以确定系数(R~2)最大及均方根误差(RMSE)最小作为评判标准,分析评价了不同冠层分层数对NEP模拟精度的影响,得出如下结论:(1)模型在不同分层情况下均具有较好的NEP日变化再现能力,当冠层分层数较少时,表现出NEP低估的倾向,而分层数较多时有高估倾向;(2)当分层数较少时,随着分层数的增加,模型模拟NEP日变化的能力增强,模拟误差变小;当分层数增加到一定数值,随着分层数的继续增加,模型模拟NEP日变化的能力趋于平稳,而模拟误差呈增大趋势;(3)采用多层模型对长白山温带针阔混交林生态系统NEP进行模拟时,以将冠层分为4~7层为宜。研究结果可为陆地生态系统NEP的模型研究提供参考。     

季节性高温和干旱对亚热带毛竹林碳通量的影响

采用涡度相关技术对安吉亚热带毛竹林生态系统碳通量进行连续观测,选取2011和2013年月尺度净生态系统生产力（NEP）、生态系统呼吸（R_e）和总生态系统生产力（GEP）数据,探讨季节性高温、干旱对毛竹林生态系统碳通量的影响.结果表明： 安吉毛竹林年际间NEP有较大差异;2013年7和8月由于水热不同步而造成的高温干旱使其NEP明显下降,相比于2011年同期分别下降了59.9%和80.0%.对2011和2013年月尺度下NEP、R_e和GEP与环境因子进行相关分析发现,R_e和GEP与温度因子均呈显著相关（P<0.05）,但两者对空气和土壤水分的响应方式和程度有所不同,GEP相比于R_e更易受到土壤水分降低的影响,而饱和水汽压差的升高会在一定程度上促进R_e、同时抑制GEP,这是造成2013年7和8月安吉毛竹林NEP降低的根本原因.     

数据处理方法不确定性对CO_2通量组分估算的影响

基于中国陆地生态系统通量观测研究网络(ChinaFLUX)4个站点(2个森林站和2个草地站)的涡度相关通量观测资料,分析了CO2通量数据处理过程中异常值剔除参数设置、夜间摩擦风速(u*)临界值(u*c)确定及数据插补模型选择对CO2通量组分估算的影响.结果表明:3种数据处理方法均对净生态系统碳交换量(NEE)年总量估算有显著影响,其中u*c确定是影响NEE估算的重要因子;异常值剔除、u*c确定及数据插补模型选择导致NEE年总量估算偏差分别为0.62～21.31 g C.m-2.a-1(0.84%～65.31%)、4.06～30.28 g C.m-2.a-1(3.76%～21.58%)和0.69～27.73 g C.m-2.a-1(0.23%～55.62%),草地生态系统NEE估算对数据处理方法参数设置更敏感;数据处理方法不确定性引起的总生态系统碳交换量和生态系统呼吸年总量估算相对偏差分别为3.88%～11.41%和6.45%～24.91%.     

DROUGHT EFFECTS ON CARBON EXCHANGE IN A SUBTROPICAL CONIFEROUS PLANTATION IN CHINA

 干旱对陆地生态系统的影响已成为全球变化研究的焦点问题之一。该研究基于生态系统过程模型——CEVSA2, 结合涡度相关通量观测, 分析了不同程度干旱对亚热带人工针叶林碳交换的影响及其关键控制因素。结果表明: 1)干旱使生态系统碳交换显著下降, 2003和2004年的干旱使得年净生态系统生产力(Net ecosystem production, NEP)相比无干旱影响情景的模拟结果分别减少了63%和47%; 2)光合和呼吸对干旱具有不同的响应, 干旱时光合的下降比呼吸更为显著, 这导致了NEP的显著下降; 3)当饱和水气压差(Vapor pressure deficit, VPD)达到1.5 kPa以上时, 生态系统的光合、呼吸和净碳吸收均开始下降, 当VPD大于2.5 kPa、土壤相对含水量(土壤含水量/土壤饱和含水量)(Relative soil water content, RSW)低于40%时, 生态系统的碳收支由碳汇转为碳源; 4)土壤干旱是造成碳交换下降的主要驱动因素, 对年NEP下降的平均贡献率为46%, 而大气干旱的贡献率仅为4%。     

森林生态系统碳循环的基本概念和野外测定方法评述

全球气候变化与森林生态系统碳循环息息相关,定量评估森林碳收支是生态系统与全球变化研究的重要任务。30年来森林生态系统碳循环研究已经取得了长足的进展,但全球和区域森林碳收支仍然存在很大的不确定性。这一方面与森林生态系统本身的复杂性有关,另一方面也与具体研究方法有关。评述了森林生态系统碳循环的基本概念和主要野外测定方法,为我国森林生态系统碳循环研究提供可参考的方法论。从生态系统碳浓度、密度、通量、分配和周转5个方面回顾了碳循环相关概念,指出碳浓度和碳储量是对碳库的静态描述,而碳通量和碳周转是对碳库的动态描述。净初级生产力是测量最普遍的碳通量组分,但大多数情况下因忽略了一些细节而被系统低估。普遍使用的净生态系统生产力,由于没有包含非CO2形式的水文、气象和干扰过程产生的碳通量,通常情况下高于生态系统净碳累积速率。在详细介绍碳通量组分的基础上,改进了森林生态系统碳循环的概念模型。重点讨论了碳通量的3种地面实测方法:测树学方法、箱法和涡度协方差法,并指出了其注意事项和不确定性来源。针对当前碳循环研究的突出问题,建议从4个方面减小碳循环测定的不确定性:(1)恰当运用生物量方程估算乔木生物量;(2)尽可能全面测定生态系统碳组分;(3)给出碳通量估算值的不确定性;(4)多种途径交互验证。     

陆地生态系统碳通量面临的挑战与机遇——基于涡度协方差测定

区域和全球涡度协方差网络提供了基于陆地-大气生态系统间最大的综合性原位碳通量观测数据集。这些数据目前已成为自下而上核算陆地生态系统碳平衡的基础,但部分测量数据合理性问题引起通量界广泛关注。通过梳理近40年研究进展,总结了涡度协方差测量原理,系统地分析了仪器局限性和环境因素潜在影响,讨论了不同碳通量组分填补存在的争议、生态系统冬季休眠期的净碳吸现象违背生理学知识、夜间湍流发展不充分对生态系统呼吸的低估等,并由此产生数据偏移和测量滞后时间等。通过阐述涡度协方差测量原理和数据处理存在的缺陷与争议,提出了适当的改进措施以限制(或降低)数据测量产生的不确定性,旨在为后续监测精度提升和探究陆地生态系统碳循环及其对环境因子的响应提供理论支撑。     

基于FORCCHN模型的中国典型森林生态系统碳通量模拟

森林生态系统是陆地碳循环的重要组成部分,其固碳能力显著高于其他陆地生态系统,研究森林生态系统碳通量是认识和理解全球变化对碳循环影响的关键。碳循环模型是研究森林生态系统碳通量有效工具。以长白山温带落叶阔叶林、千烟洲亚热带常绿针叶林、鼎湖山亚热带常绿阔叶林和西双版纳热带雨林等4种中国典型森林生态系统为研究对象,利用涡度相关2003-2012年观测数据,评估FORCCHN模型对生态系统呼吸（ER）,总初级生产力（GPP）,净生态系统生产力（NEP）的模型效果。结果表明：（1） FORCCHN模型能够较好的模拟中国4种典型森林生态系统不同时间尺度的碳通量。落叶阔叶林和常绿针叶林ER和GPP的逐日变化模拟效果较好（ER的相关系数分别为0.94和0.92,GPP的相关系数分别为0.86和0.74）;（2）4种森林生态系统碳通量季节动态模拟值和观测值显著相关（P<0.01）,ER、GPP、NEP的观测值和模拟值的R²分别为0.77-0.93、0.54-0.88和0.15-0.38;模型可以很好地模拟森林生态系统不同季节碳汇（NEP>0）,碳源（NEP<0）的变化规律;（3）4种森林生态系统碳通量模拟值与观测值的年际变化有很好的吻合度,但在数值大小上存在差异,模型高估了常绿阔叶林的ER和GPP,略微低估了其他3种森林生态系统ER和GPP。     

青藏高原高寒灌丛草甸和草原化草甸CO_2通量动态及其限制因子

高寒灌丛草甸和草甸均是青藏高原广泛分布的植被类型,在生态系统碳通量和区域碳循环中具有极其重要的作用。然而迄今为止,对其碳通量动态的时空变异还缺乏比较分析,对碳通量的季节和年际变异的主导影响因子认识还不够清晰,不利于深入理解生态系统碳通量格局及其形成机制。该研究选取位于青藏高原东部海北站高寒灌丛草甸和高原腹地当雄站高寒草原化草甸年降水量相近的5年(2004–2008年)的涡度相关CO_2通量连续观测数据,对生态系统净初级生产力(NEP)及其组分,包括总初级生产力(GPP)和生态系统呼吸的季节、年际动态及其影响因子进行了对比分析。结果表明:灌丛草甸的CO_2通量无论是季节还是年际累积量均高于草原化草甸,并且连续5年表现为"碳汇",平均每年NEP为70 g C·m~(–2)·a~(–1),高寒草原化草甸平均每年NEP为–5 g C·m~(–2)·a~(–1),几乎处于碳平衡状态,但其源/汇动态极不稳定,在2006年–88 g C·m~(–2)·a~(–1)的"碳源"至2008年54 g C·m~(–2)·a~(–1)的"碳汇"之间转换,具有较大的变异性。这两种高寒生态系统源/汇动态的差异主要源于归一化植被指数(NDVI)的差异,因为NDVI无论在年际水平还是季节水平都是NEP最直接的影响因子;其次,灌丛草甸还具有较高的碳利用效率(CUE,CUE=NEP/GPP),而年降水量和NDVI是决定两生态系统CUE大小的关键因子。两地区除了CO_2通量大小的差异外,其环境影响因子也有所不同。采用结构方程模型进行的通径分析表明,灌丛草甸生长季节CO_2通量的主要限制因子是温度,NEP和GPP主要受气温控制,随着气温升高而增加;而草原化草甸的CO_2通量多以季节性干旱导致的水分限制为主,其次才是气温的影响,受二者的共同限制。此外,两生态系统生长季节生态系统呼吸主要受GPP和5 cm土壤温度的直接影响,其中GPP起主导作用,非生长季节生态系统呼吸主要受5 cm土壤温度影响。该研究还表明,水热因子的协调度是决定青藏高原高寒草地GPP和NEP的关键要素。     

安吉毛竹林非生长季CO2通量与其光合响应关系探究

利用涡度相关法和生理生态法(光合)对安吉毛竹林生态系统非生长季(2014.10-2015.4, 无2 月)的CO₂ 通量进行测定, 结果表明, 两种方法具有良好的响应关系, 基于涡度的生态系统净交换量(NEE)和基于光合的生态系统净初级生产力(NEP)日变化均呈单峰型曲线, 受光合有效辐射(PAR)的直接影响, 在午间12:00 前后有最大值, 且两者均表现为秋季最大(10 月最高), 春季次之, 冬季最低。就各月而言, 基于光合测定的NEP 日最大值和月总量均低于涡度相关技术白天的测定值, 但均占到后者的40%和65%以上, 在毛竹光合能力比较强的10、11 和4 月, 所占比例更大。表明在白天, 安吉毛竹林生态系统的NEP 主要取决于毛竹的光合作用。此外, 观测期间, 毛竹林生态系统在的净初级生产力总量为1365.59 gCO₂·m^–2, 吸收的碳约372.44 gC·m^–2, 整体表现为较强的碳汇。     

Environmental controls over carbon exchange of three forest ecosystems in eastern China

Net ecosystem productivity (NEP) was continuously measured using the eddy covariance (EC) technique from 2003 to 2005 at three forest sites of ChinaFLUX. The forests include Changbaishan temperate mixed forest (CBS), Qianyanzhou subtropical coniferous plantation (QYZ), and Dinghushan subtropical evergreen broad‐leaved forest (DHS). They span wide ranges of temperature and precipitation and are influenced by the eastern Asian monsoon climate to varying extent. In this study, we estimated ecosystem respiration (RE) and gross ecosystem productivity (GEP). Comparison of ecosystem carbon exchange among the three forests shows that RE was mainly determined by temperature, with the forest at CBS exhibiting the highest temperature sensitivity among the three ecosystems. The RE was highly dependent on GEP across the three forests, and the ratio of RE to GEP decreased along the North–South Transect of Eastern China (NSTEC) (i.e. from the CBS to the DHS), with an average of 0.77 ± 0.06. Daily GEP was mainly influenced by temperature at CBS, whereas photosynthetic photon flux density was the dominant factor affecting the daily GEP at both QYZ and DHS. Temperature mainly determined the pattern of the interannual variations of ecosystem carbon exchange at CBS. However, water availability primarily controlled the interannual variations of ecosystem carbon exchange at QYZ. At DHS, NEP attained the highest values at the beginning of the dry seasons (autumn) rather than the rainy seasons (summer), probably because insufficient radiation and frequent fog during the rainy seasons hindered canopy photosynthesis. All the three forest ecosystems acted as a carbon sink from 2003 to 2005. The annual average values of NEP at CBS, QYZ, and DHS were 259 ± 19, 354 ± 34, and 434 ± 66 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹, respectively. The slope of NEP that decreased with increasing latitude along the NSTEC was markedly different from that observed on the forest transect in the European continent. Long‐term flux measurements over more forest ecosystems along the NSTEC will further help verify such a difference between the European forest transect and the NSTEC and provide insights into the responses of ecosystem carbon exchange to climate change in China.     

基于模型数据融合的长白山阔叶红松林碳循环模拟

 充分、有效地利用各种陆地生态系统碳观测数据改善陆地生态系统模型, 是当前我国陆地生态系统碳循环研究领域亟待解决的重要问题之一。该研究以2003~2005年长白山阔叶红松林的6组生物计量观测数据和涡度相关技术测定的碳通量数据为基础, 利用马尔可夫链-蒙特卡罗方法对陆地生态系统模型的关键参数(即碳滞留时间)进行了反演, 进而预测了长白山阔叶红松林生态系统碳库、碳通量及其不确定性。反演结果表明, 长白山阔叶红松林叶凋落物和微生物碳的平均滞留时间最短, 为2~6个月; 其次是叶和细根生物量碳, 二者的平均滞留时间为1~2 a; 慢性土壤有机碳的平均滞留时间为8~16 a; 碳在木质生物量和惰性土壤有机质库中的滞留时间最长, 平均滞留时间分别为77~109 a和409~1 879 a。模拟结果显示, 碳库和累积碳通量模拟值的不确定性将随着模拟时间的延长而增大。当气温升高10%和20%时, 长白山阔叶红松林总初级生产力年总量将分别增加6.5%和9.9%, 净生态系统生产力(NEP)年总量的变化取决于土壤温度的变化。若土壤温度保持不变, NEP年总量将分别增加11.4%~21.9%和17.6%~33.1%; 若土壤温度也相应升高10%和20%, NEP年总量的增幅反而下降甚至低于原来的水平。假设气候和植被保持在2003~2005年的状态, 2020年长白山阔叶红松林NEP年总量为(163±12) g C·m^–2·a^–1, 土壤呼吸年总量为(721±14) g C·m^–2·a^–1。马尔可夫链-蒙特卡罗方法是反演模型参数、优化模拟结果和评估模拟结果不确定性的有效方法, 但今后仍需在惰性土壤碳滞留时间的估计、驱动数据和模型结构的不确定性分析、模型数据融合方法方面进行深入研究, 以进一步提高碳循环模拟的准确性。     

Spatial patterns and climate drivers of carbon fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems of China

Understanding the dynamics and underlying mechanism of carbon exchange between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere is one of the key issues in global change research. In this study, we quantified the carbon fluxes in different terrestrial ecosystems in China, and analyzed their spatial variation and environmental drivers based on the long‐term observation data of ChinaFLUX sites and the published data from other flux sites in China. The results indicate that gross ecosystem productivity (GEP), ecosystem respiration (ER), and net ecosystem productivity (NEP) of terrestrial ecosystems in China showed a significantly latitudinal pattern, declining linearly with the increase of latitude. However, GEP, ER, and NEP did not present a clear longitudinal pattern. The carbon sink functional areas of terrestrial ecosystems in China were mainly located in the subtropical and temperate forests, coastal wetlands in eastern China, the temperate meadow steppe in the northeast China, and the alpine meadow in eastern edge of Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau. The forest ecosystems had stronger carbon sink than grassland ecosystems. The spatial patterns of GEP and ER in China were mainly determined by mean annual precipitation (MAP) and mean annual temperature (MAT), whereas the spatial variation in NEP was largely explained by MAT. The combined effects of MAT and MAP explained 79%, 62%, and 66% of the spatial variations in GEP, ER, and NEP, respectively. The GEP, ER, and NEP in different ecosystems in China exhibited ‘positive coupling correlation’ in their spatial patterns. Both ER and NEP were significantly correlated with GEP, with 68% of the per‐unit GEP contributed to ER and 29% to NEP. MAT and MAP affected the spatial patterns of ER and NEP mainly by their direct effects on the spatial pattern of GEP.     

基于EALCO模型对中亚热带人工针叶林CO2通量季节变异的模拟

 EALCO模型是一个基于生理生态学过程,模拟生态系统下垫面与大气之间水、热和碳通量交换的综合模型。将该模型应用在亚热带常绿针叶林, 对其生态系统过程进行了模拟,以深入探讨季节性干旱对生态系统过程的影响。对EALCO模型进行了参数化与初始化并对模型的光合作用时段和 落叶机制进行了改进,以更好地模拟亚热带人工针叶林生态系统。千烟洲通量观测站自2002年底开始应用涡度相关技术对中亚热带人工针叶林 生态系统进行通量观测,该站点2003年经历了一次较严重的季节性干旱(由高温与少雨综合作用造成),降水量仅为多年平均值的65%,而2004年 的年降水量与多年平均值较为接近,利用该站点2003和2004年特殊的气候条件,使用其通量观测数据对模型的模拟效果进行检验。从模拟结果 的总体趋势来看,模型能较好地从半小时、日及年尺度上反映两年内土壤-植被-大气之间的碳交换状况。总初级生产力(Gross primary production, GPP)在一年中呈现单峰型变化,遇高温及干旱胁迫GPP值下降。由于受到干旱胁迫的影响,2003年GPP值比2004年偏低12.9%。模拟 结果显示,2003年GPP值比2004年偏低11.2%。观测数据与模拟结果均显示,水分胁迫期间净碳交换量(Net ecosystem production, NEP)模拟值 与实测值的日变化均呈现一种“偏态",即一天中生态系统碳交换量最大值出现在上午某一时刻,之后逐渐降低。 模拟结果显示,水分匮缺对 光合能力的影响比对生态系统呼吸作用的影响更为强烈,因而导致了净生态系统生产力的降低。进一步分析表明,水分匮缺期间,晴天正午之 前,深层土壤( >20 cm) 水分的匮缺抑制了光合作用能力,正午之后,高温与深层土壤水分匮缺共同削弱光合作用能力,影响各占一半。     

CO2 exchange and evapotranspiration across dryland ecosystems of southwestern North America

Global‐scale studies suggest that dryland ecosystems dominate an increasing trend in the magnitude and interannual variability of the land CO₂ sink. However, such analyses are poorly constrained by measured CO₂ exchange in drylands. Here we address this observation gap with eddy covariance data from 25 sites in the water‐limited Southwest region of North America with observed ranges in annual precipitation of 100–1000 mm, annual temperatures of 2–25°C, and records of 3–10 years (150 site‐years in total). Annual fluxes were integrated using site‐specific ecohydrologic years to group precipitation with resulting ecosystem exchanges. We found a wide range of carbon sink/source function, with mean annual net ecosystem production (NEP) varying from ‐350 to +330 gCm^?2 across sites with diverse vegetation types, contrasting with the more constant sink typically measured in mesic ecosystems. In this region, only forest‐dominated sites were consistent carbon sinks. Interannual variability of NEP, gross ecosystem production (GEP), and ecosystem respiration (R_eco) was larger than for mesic regions, and half the sites switched between functioning as C sinks/C sources in wet/dry years. The sites demonstrated coherent responses of GEP and NEP to anomalies in annual evapotranspiration (ET), used here as a proxy for annually available water after hydrologic losses. Notably, GEP and R_eco were negatively related to temperature, both interannually within site and spatially across sites, in contrast to positive temperature effects commonly reported for mesic ecosystems. Models based on MODIS satellite observations matched the cross‐site spatial pattern in mean annual GEP but consistently underestimated mean annual ET by ~50%. Importantly, the MODIS‐based models captured only 20–30% of interannual variation magnitude. These results suggest the contribution of this dryland region to variability of regional to global CO₂ exchange may be up to 3–5 times larger than current estimates.     

CO2 balance of boreal, temperate, and tropical forests derived from a global database

Terrestrial ecosystems sequester 2.1 Pg of atmospheric carbon annually. A large amount of the terrestrial sink is realized by forests. However, considerable uncertainties remain regarding the fate of this carbon over both short and long timescales. Relevant data to address these uncertainties are being collected at many sites around the world, but syntheses of these data are still sparse. To facilitate future synthesis activities, we have assembled a comprehensive global database for forest ecosystems, which includes carbon budget variables (fluxes and stocks), ecosystem traits (e.g. leaf area index, age), as well as ancillary site information such as management regime, climate, and soil characteristics. This publicly available database can be used to quantify global, regional or biome‐specific carbon budgets; to re‐examine established relationships; to test emerging hypotheses about ecosystem functioning [e.g. a constant net ecosystem production (NEP) to gross primary production (GPP) ratio]; and as benchmarks for model evaluations. In this paper, we present the first analysis of this database. We discuss the climatic influences on GPP, net primary production (NPP) and NEP and present the CO₂ balances for boreal, temperate, and tropical forest biomes based on micrometeorological, ecophysiological, and biometric flux and inventory estimates. Globally, GPP of forests benefited from higher temperatures and precipitation whereas NPP saturated above either a threshold of 1500 mm precipitation or a mean annual temperature of 10 °C. The global pattern in NEP was insensitive to climate and is hypothesized to be mainly determined by nonclimatic conditions such as successional stage, management, site history, and site disturbance. In all biomes, closing the CO₂ balance required the introduction of substantial biome‐specific closure terms. Nonclosure was taken as an indication that respiratory processes, advection, and non‐CO₂ carbon fluxes are not presently being adequately accounted for.     

Modeling analysis of primary controls on net ecosystem productivity of seven boreal and temperate coniferous forests across a continental transect

Process‐based models are effective tools to synthesize and/or extrapolate measured carbon (C) exchanges from individual sites to large scales. In this study, we used a C‐ and nitrogen (N)‐cycle coupled ecosystem model named CN‐CLASS (Carbon Nitrogen‐Canadian Land Surface Scheme) to study the role of primary climatic controls and site‐specific C stocks on the net ecosystem productivity (NEP) of seven intermediate‐aged to mature coniferous forest sites across an east–west continental transect in Canada. The model was parameterized using a common set of parameters, except for two used in empirical canopy conductance–assimilation, and leaf area–sapwood relationships, and then validated using observed eddy covariance flux data. Leaf Rubisco‐N dynamics that are associated with soil–plant N cycling, and depend on canopy temperature, enabled the model to simulate site‐specific gross ecosystem productivity (GEP) reasonably well for all seven sites. Overall GEP simulations had relatively smaller differences compared with observations vs. ecosystem respiration (RE), which was the sum of many plant and soil components with larger variability and/or uncertainty associated with them. Both observed and simulated data showed that, on an annual basis, boreal forest sites were either carbon‐neutral or a weak C sink, ranging from 30 to 180 g C m^?2 yr^?1; while temperate forests were either a medium or strong C sink, ranging from 150 to 500 g C m^?2 yr^?1, depending on forest age and climatic regime. Model sensitivity tests illustrated that air temperature, among climate variables, and aboveground biomass, among major C stocks, were dominant factors impacting annual NEP. Vegetation biomass effects on annual GEP, RE and NEP showed similar patterns of variability at four boreal and three temperate forests. Air temperature showed different impacts on GEP and RE, and the response varied considerably from site to site. Higher solar radiation enhanced GEP, while precipitation differences had a minor effect. Magnitude of forest litter content and soil organic matter (SOM) affected RE. SOM also affected GEP, but only at low levels of SOM, because of low N mineralization that limited soil nutrient (N) availability. The results of this study will help to evaluate the impact of future climatic changes and/or forest C stock variations on C uptake and loss in forest ecosystems growing in diverse environments.