Sprouts tend to mature and decline sooner than trees originating from seeds. Paper Birch is considered to be a shade-intolerant tree. In natural stands, birch usually last for only one generation before being replaced by a more shade tolerant species. However, when growing in a mixed stand with spruce, birch often retain a position in the stand, and the stands do not go toward a pure spruce climax. Birch can invade declining old-growth spruce in openings created by the death and uprooting of the spruce.
Mineral soil exposed by uprooting and decaying fallen trees provide suitable seedbeds.
Stands approaching maturity seldom respond to thinning. In Alaska, pure birch stands have little fuel available, so fires are uncommon. Young regenerating stands provide browse and cover for moose. Moose may over-browse, resulting in short, brushy growth. Peak browse production occurs 10-16 years after disturbance.