Age-dependent response of boreal forest to temperature and rainfall variability

We used measurements of CO₂ exchange by six Canadian boreal forest stands to determine how sites of contrasting age respond to interannual temperature and precipitation variation. The stands ranged in age (time since last burn) from 4 to 155 years. The study included years that were anomalously cool and moist, warm and dry, cool and dry, and warm and moist. Warmer than average springs accelerated the onset of older stand (> 20 years) photosynthesis by as much as 37 days and younger stand (< 20 years) photosynthesis by as much as 25 days. The warm–dry year resulted in a marked reduction of mid‐summer CO₂ uptake by the younger, but not older, stands. The mid‐summer decline in young stand photosynthesis reflected the combination of warmth and drought; similar declines were not observed during the cool–dry or warm–moist years. The annual carbon gain by the oldest stands was greatest during the warm–dry year as a result of the expanded growing season. The annual carbon gain by the youngest stands was consistent from year to year, largely as a result of offsets between increased spring photosynthesis and reduced mid‐summer photosynthesis during the warm–dry year. Night‐time CO₂ efflux increased by 2–29% during the warm–moist year relative to the warm–dry year. This increase was not systematically related to age. We conclude that the major source of interannual CO₂ exchange variation at the landscape scale is the ability of older, evergreen canopies to respond to warm springs by advancing the onset of photosynthesis. Drought‐related reductions in photosynthesis, moisture‐driven respiratory losses, and the effects of spring warmth on young‐stand photosynthesis are of secondary importance. The advantage conferred on older, evergreen stands during warmer years carries implications for the possible effects of climate change on boreal forest succession. Warmer temperatures may increase the competitive advantage of late successional species relative to early successional species, and also the incidence of fire, thereby accelerating plant succession and shortening the fire‐return interval.