The relationship between vegetation dynamics and water table in tropical dune slacks

Abstract. Inundation of tropical dune slacks is an irregular phenomenon produced by consecutive years with high precipitation and also by intense tropical storms. Our hypothesis was that the distribution, structure and composition of vegetation in tropical dune slacks have changed over time as a result of various factors, principally their topographical position with respect to the water table, frequency and duration of inundation, and historical fluctuations in climate. We tested this hypothesis in two different slacks that represent the slack community at the study site. Inundation caused changes in species composition and distribution, as well as in vegetation structure. In one slack, inundation was considered as disturbance because its intensity increased when areas remained inundated for longer periods of time, causing death of vegetation cover and favouring invasion of more aggressive, secondary species (Pluchea odorata, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Panicum maximum). When inundation lasted less than three months, rhizomatous herbs remained (Cyperus articulatus, Lippia nodiflora, Hydrocotyle bonariensis) inhibiting the succession process. The results suggest that the different degrees of inundation and the irregular frequency and intensity of inundation in the slacks under study, have favoured different successional tendencies.     

Structure and ecology of epiphyte communities of a cloud forest in central Veracruz,Mexico

Abstract. 39 species of vascular epiphytes were found in a 625-m² plot in a cloud forest in Veracruz, Mexico. Epiphyte biomass was estimated for all species in six zones distinguished on each tree > 10 cm in DBH: stem base, lower stem, upper stem, branches > 20 cm, branches from 5 — 20 cm and branches < 5 cm diameter. Branches were additionally separated according to their position in the upper, middle or lower canopy. Total dry matter of green organs was 318 kg/ha. Dominance/diversity curves fitted best to the lognormal model. Principal Coordinate Analysis showed that canopy height and branch thickness are both important factors and also that the stem base was the most distinct zone. Microhabitat preferences and niche overlap of the frequent species proved some degree of resource partitioning within the canopy. Ecophysiological characters possibly responsible for these preferences and implications for conservation are discussed.     

Composition and ecology of vascular epiphyte communities along an altitudinal gradient in central Veracruz,Mexico

Abstract. Vascular epiphytes were studied in forests at altitudes from 720 to 2370 m on the Atlantic slope of central Veracruz, Mexico. The biomass of all trees of each species > 10 cm diameter at breast height within plots between 625 and 1500 m² was estimated. The number of species per plot ranged between 22 and 53, and biomass between 9 and 249 g dry weight/m². The highest values, both of species and biomass, were found at an intermediate altitude (1430 m). Habitat diversity may contribute to epiphyte diversity in humid forests, but the importance of this effect could not be distinguished from the influence of climate. A remarkably high number of bromeliads and orchids grew in relatively dry forests at low altitudes. In wet upper montane forests, bromeliads were replaced by ferns, while orchids were numerous at all sites, except for a pine forest. The number of epiphytic species and their biomass on a tree of a given site were closely related to tree size. According to Canonical Correspondence Analysis, the factor determining the composition of the epiphytic vegetation of a tree was altitude and to some extent tree size, whereas tree species had practically no influence. The only trees which had an evidently negative effect on epiphytes were pines, which were particularly hostile to orchids and to a lesser degree to ferns, and Bursera simaruba, which generally had few epiphytes due to its smooth and defoliating bark.     

Spatial and temporal variability during primary succession on tropical coastal sand dunes

Abstract. We studied primary succession on mobile tropical coastal sand dunes over an 8‐yr period. Every six months, we monitored changes in species composition and sand movement in permanent quadrats located on the windward slopes, the arms and the crests. Our results indicate that sand movement decreased over time but was significantly higher on the slopes and crests than on the arms. In all cases, there were seasonal fluctuations in sand movement which increased during the period with strong northerly winds and decreased during the rainy season. Sand movement was significantly correlated with species distribution. Plant cover and species richness increased at all three locations. Diversity increased on the slope, decreased on the arms and remained unchanged on the crest. However, the equitability values indicated the dominance of a few species, especially at the end of the study period. Temporal trends and species turnover rates differed among locations. Species turnover occurred first on the arms (1994), then on the crests (1998) and lastly on the slopes (at the end of the study period). In all cases the tall grass, Schizachyrium scoparium var. littoralis, became dominant over the endemic legume, Chamaecrista chamaecristoides var. chamaecristoides. Similar to temperate dunes, primary succession on tropical sand dunes was spatially and temporally heterogeneous.     

Four decades of old field vegetation development and the role of Celastrus orbiculatus in the northeastern United States

Abstract. This paper describes four decades of in situ vegetation change in a post-agricultural site in southern New England where the role of the introduced vine, Celastrus orbiculatus, has drastically modified the course of vegetation development. An initial perennial forb-grassland community was replaced by two strikingly different physiognomic vegetation types-an early hardwood forest and a vine community occupying the same site 40 yr later. This ecological phenomenon was unpredictable since Celastrus was not recorded at the site until the 1970s. Within the young hardwood forest dominated by Prunus serotina and Acer rubrum, a few old field species (five) persist, whereas 17 forest herbs have become established. Typical forest shrubs are rare or absent. The Celastrus-dominated vine community has suppressed or eliminated pre-existing growth to form a relatively stable community where a forest vegetation is the regional vegetation type. Celastrus also appears to be facilitating a native vine (Vitis labrusca) by forming a ‘ladder’ for its advance. Although A. rubrum and Quercus spp. could ultimately dominate the forest community, the contiguous and aggressive nature of Celastrus makes predictions questionable. This long-term study highlights the unpredictable nature of old field succession and the role of an exotic species in threatening the natural vegetation development.     

Occurrence of pollen and spores in relation to present-day vegetation in a Dutch heathland area

Abstract. Pollen, spores and fungal remains in moss cushions along a transect, traversing a Betula-Quercus forest and a surrounding heathland, were analysed in order to study the relation between present-day vegetation and recent pollen deposition. Pollen and spores are divided into local types from plant species encountered along the transect and regional types, not present along the transect. Relative percentages and absolute concentration of the palynomorphs were estimated. Radiocaesium activity in the moss was measured to assess the minimal duration of palynomorph accumulation (i.e. the age of the moss samples). The absence of simultaneous trends in the regional pollen types indicates that the samples do not have major differences in age. The moss represents the later stages in the heath mosaic cycle. This is supported by the radiocaesium content of the moss. Thus, in this case the concentration values of regional pollen approach deposition values. The values of the local pollen types calculated on such a rather constant regional pollen flux is considered to represent real differences in the local deposition. The local pollen types can be arranged topographically into five groups characteristic of the local vegetation types and their ecotones. The arrangement of the curves of types from phyco-, zoo-, and myco-coenoses suggests their possible origin, either locally from the heath area or from the Betula-Quercus forest, or regionally from elsewhere. Analyses and topographical arrangement of the curves of unknown types contribute in this way to their identification and their possible source of origin.     

华南典型树种凋落叶的野外分解和溶解性有机质溶出动态

选用华南亚热带地区常见阔叶树种木荷和针叶树种湿地松的新近凋落叶,在野外分解0、30、60、90、150、210、240、365 d,分析溶出的溶解性有机质(DOM)浓度、组成和性质的变化,以及对土壤可溶性有机碳(DOC)的影响.结果表明: 随着分解的进行,尽管木荷叶片的DOM浓度高于松针,但是2种凋落叶DOM浓度、性质和物质组成变化规律一致;2种凋落叶的DOM浓度均呈下降趋势,芳香化程度和分子量增大,富里酸、腐殖酸类物质逐渐增多,可降解的简单芳烃蛋白(如酪氨酸)逐渐减少.在分解初期,DOM主要由亲水中性和酸性部分组成,易分解、易迁移,对表层土壤DOC影响不显著;在分解后期,DOM主要为腐殖酸和富里酸类物质,吸附性强,表层土壤DOC浓度显著下降.     

Species composition and invasion in NW Argentinian secondary forests: Effects of land use history,environment and landscape

Abstract. Successional patches are a large component of forest ecosystems throughout the world and their vegetation composition is conditioned by multiple factors such as land use history, disturbances, environmental conditions and landscape context. We investigated the relative contribution of historical, environmental, biotic and spatial factors in determining vegetation composition and invasion by exotic species in secondary forest patches of Sierra de San Javier, Tucumán, Argentina. We estimated canopy cover for shrub, vine and tree species distributed over 51 patches with known land use history. We also recorded environmental, historical and spatial variables and used multivariate techniques to explore the relationship between forest composition and explanatory variables. Land use, time since abandonment, altitude, slope and cover of different strata were related to the vegetation pattern in the study site, and they were all significantly structured over space. Exotic species appeared to differ from natives in their response to explanatory variables. Overall, exotic species were dominant on the edges of young patches originated from herbaceous crops, but the total number of exotic species was related to the distance to urban areas and small farms identified as potential sources of exotic propagules. Vegetation composition of secondary forests in NW Argentina was related to historical and environmental factors, but spatial variables strongly influenced vegetation composition as well as the variation in explanatory variables.     

Distribution and effects of tree leaf litter on vegetation composition and biomass in a forest-grassland ecotone

Aims After abandonment of grasslands, secondary succession leads to the invasion by woody species. This process begins with the accumulation of tree litter in the forest–grassland ecotone. Our objectives were to determine the relationships between litter amounts and vegetation composition and cover along natural forest–grassland ecotones and to experimentally study the initial effects of tree litter accumulation on grassland vegetation and on microsite conditions.Methods We established 11 transects varying from 12 to 15 m in length in different forest–grassland ecotones in the Lahn-Dill highlands, Germany, and measured the mass and cover of tree litter and the cover and composition of vegetation at five sequential positions along each transect by using 1 m 2 plots with five replications. In a field experiment, we established plots subjected to different litter amounts (0, 200 and 600g m ?2) and evaluated changes in grassland vegetation, soil temperature and soil nutrient availability below the litter layer.Important findings Tree litter amounts decrease from 650 to 65g m ?2 across the forest–grassland ecotone. Vegetation changed from shrubs and annual species (adapted to more stressful conditions) in the forests edge to grasses, rosettes and hemirosette species (with higher competitive abilities) in the grassland. These anthropogenic forest–grassland ecotones showed abrupt edges, and the two adjacent ecosystems were characterized by different species pools and functional groups. In the field experiment, the presence of a litter layer reduced vegetation biomass and cover; the species richness was only reduced in the treatment with high litter (600g m ?2). Additionally, adding litter on top of vegetation also reduced thermal amplitude and the number of frost days, while increasing the availability of some nutrients, such as nitrogen and aluminium, the latter being an indicator of soil acidification. Adding a tree litter layer of 600g m ?2 in grassland areas had strong effects on the composition and diversity of grassland vegetation by reducing the cover of several key grassland species. In, or near, forest edges, litter accumulation rapidly changes established vegetation, microsite conditions and soil nutrients.     

Rain forest composition and patterns of secondary succession in the Vava'u Island Group,Tonga

Abstract. The Vava'u island group, Tonga, comprises ca. 60 limestone islands on a single submarine platform overlain with rich soils derived from tephra deposits from nearby volcanic islands. The island group has moderate topographic relief (215 m) and is characterized by plateaus and steep cliffs. Humans settled in Tonga ca. 3000 yr ago and have exploited the flatter terrain for agriculture since that time. We conducted the first survey of forest composition in Vava'u, sampling remnant patches of late-successional forest as well as stands in various stages of secondary succession following agricultural abandonment. Plant species composition did not vary greatly with elevation over this short gradient, in contrast with patterns found on‘Eua, a higher island in Tonga. The most significant environmental gradient affecting species composition was coastal or maritime influence. However, the greatest variation in species composition and structure appeared to be related to species turnover during secondary succession, and we hypothesize a sequence of species replacements. Secondary forest begins to resemble late-successional forest in 30–50 yr in terms of structure and native species richness and therefore is of significant conservation value.     

浙江东白山次生针阔混交林群落组成及结构动态

次生针阔混交林是亚热带地区常见的森林类型,研究次生针阔混交林群落的演替特征及其更新规律,将为本地区植被恢复及森林经营管理提供重要依据。该文基于2013和2018年两次调查东白山次生针阔混交林1 hm²固定样地的数据,从木本植物组成、群落物种多样性、物种重要值、径级结构等方面,分析了东白山次生针阔混交林群落组成和结构的动态变化。结果表明：(1)2013—2018年间,群落内物种数和植株数均显著下降(P<0.05);(2)样地内DBH≥1 cm的个体死亡1 505株,年均死亡率6.40%,新增个体71株,年均补员率0.35%;(3)群落物种多样性指数均显著下降(P<0.05),其中Margalef丰富度指数下降最多,降低了25.03%,Shannon-Wiener指数降低了11.88%;(4)林冠层中常绿阔叶树种的优势地位在进一步加强,而针叶树种的优势度在逐渐下降;(5)5 a间,大、中径级的个体比例逐渐增加,小径级植株的存活个体比例逐渐下降。该研究表明,2013—2018年间,东白山次生针阔混交林群落组成和结构总体发生了较为显著的动态变化,群落处于次生针...     

Distribution and abundance of trees in floodplain forests of the Wisconsin River: Environmental influences at different scales

Questions: 1. How do physiography, flooding regime, landscape pattern, land‐cover history, and local soil conditions influence the presence, community structure and abundance of overstorey trees? 2. Can broad‐scale factors explain variation in the floodplain forest community, or are locally measured soil conditions necessary? Location: Floodplain of the lower 370 km of the Wisconsin River, Wisconsin, USA. Methods: Floodplain forest was sampled in 10 m × 20 m plots [n= 405) during summers of 1999 and 2000 in six 12‐ to 15‐km reaches. Results: Species observed most frequently were Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Acer saccharinum and Ulmus americana. Physiography (e.g. geographic province) and indicators of flooding regime (e.g. relative elevation and distance from main channel) were consistently important in predicting occurrence, community composition, and abundance of trees. Correspondence analysis revealed that flood‐tolerant and intolerant species segregated along the primary axis, and late‐successional species segregated from flood‐tolerant species along the secondary axis. Current landscape configuration only influenced species presence or abundance in forests that developed during recent decades. Land‐cover history was important for tree species presence and for the abundance of late‐successional species. Comparison of statistical models developed with and without soils data suggested that broad‐scale factors such as geographic province generally performed well. Conclusions: Physiography and indicators of flood regime are particularly useful for explaining floodplain forest structure and composition in floodplains with a relatively high proportion of natural cover types.     

Effects of selective logging on tree diversity,composition and plant functional type patterns in a Bornean rain forest

Abstract. The effects of selective logging on tree diversity, changes in tree species composition and plant functional types were studied with the use of seven permanent plots in virgin and in logged forest. All plots were located in a lowland dipterocarp rain forest in East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo. Just after logging and during the following 20 yr tree diversity measured as Fishers’α was not significantly affected in logged forest plots. Temporal shifts in tree species composition were analysed with Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Logged forest plots had much larger changes over time than virgin forest plots. In the smallest diameter class, some logged forest plots showed a distinct trajectory in PCA space compared to virgin forest plots, while in larger diameter classes movement of logged plots in PCA space was random. This suggests that there is no predetermined community to which logged forest plots tend to shift when recovering from logging. We found a significant negative correlation between diameter increments and the species‐specific wood densities of tree species. Species‐specific wood density and potential tree height were used to assign species to five PFTs. As expected, logging increased the fraction of softwood stems in small diameter classes. In the largest diameter classes (≥ 50 cm DBH) a strong decrease of softwood emergent stems was found in logged forest plots. After more than 20 yr no recruitment was found of softwood emergent stems in selectively logged forest.     

Prolamellar-body structure,composition of molecular species and amount of galactolipids in etiolated,greening and reetiolated primary leaves of oat,wheat and rye

The greening and reetiolation process of etiolated leaves of oat, wheat and rye, possessing different types of prolamellar bodies (PLBs), was observed by electron microscopy. Oat is known to possess unusual crystalline PLBs (so-called narrow type). Rye and what, which normally show PLBs with more loosely packed tubules (wide type) during etiolation, exhibited PLBs of the narrow type after illumination and subsequent reincubation in the dark (=reetiolation). Thus the reetiolated PLBs of wheat and rye did not differ from etiolated or reetiolated oat PLBs. In parallel with the microscopic analysis, intact leaves of all developmental stages were analysed for their galactolipid content and composition of molecular species using a newly developed high-performance liquid chromatography procedure. When oat, wheat and rye were compared, differences in the molecular species and the molar ratio of the two galactolipids monogalactosyldiacylglyceride (MGDG) and digalactosyldiacylglyceride (DGDG) were found. However, no parameter showed a correlation with PLB construction, disintegration or reconstruction. The results presented in this paper are not consistent with the hypothesis that the molar ratio of MGDG/DGDG is responsible for the tubular structure of prolamellar bodies in etioplasts.Abbreviations DGDG digalactosyl diacylglyceride - HPLC high-performance liquid chromatograpyh - MGDG monogalactosyl diacylglyceride - PLB prolamellar body     

Scales of aboveground and below-ground competition in a semi-arid woodland detected from spatial pattern

Abstract. Semi-arid woodlands are two-phase mosaics of canopy and inter-canopy patches. We hypothesized that both aboveground competition (within canopy patches), and below-ground competition (between canopy patches), would be important structuring processes in these communities. We investigated the spatial pattern of trees in a Pinus edulis-Juniperus monosperma woodland in New Mexico using Ripley's K-function. We found strong aggregation of trees at scales of 2 to 4 m, which indicates the scale of canopy patches. Canopy patches were composed of individuals of both species. Crown centers of both species were always less aggregated than stem centers at scales less than canopy patch size, indicating morphological plasticity of competing crowns. In the smallest size classes of both species, aggregation was most intense, and occurred over a larger range of scales; aggregation decreased with increasing size as is consistent with density-dependent mortality from intraspecific competition. Within canopy patches, younger trees were associated with older trees of the other species. At scales larger than canopy patches, younger trees showed repulsion from older conspecifics, indicating below-ground competition. Hence, intraspecific competition was stronger than interspecific competition, probably because the species differ in rooting depth. Woodland dynamics depend on the scale and composition of canopy patches, aggregated seed deposition and facilitation, above- and below-ground competition, and temporal changes in the spatial scale of interactions. This woodland is intermediate in a grassland-forest continuum (a gradient of increasing woody canopy cover) and hence we expected, and were able to detect, the effects of both above- and below-ground competition.     

StarD4-mediated translocation of 7-hydroperoxycholesterol to isolated mitochondria: Deleterious effects and implications for steroidogenesis under oxidative stress conditions

StAR family proteins, including StarD4, play a key role in steroidogenesis by transporting cholesterol (Ch) into mitochondria for conversion to pregnenolone. Using a model system consisting of peroxidized cholesterol (7α-OOH)-containing liposomes as donors, we showed that human recombinant StarD4 accelerates 7α-OOH transfer to isolated liver mitochondria, and to a greater extent than Ch transfer. StarD4 had no effect on transfer of non-oxidized or peroxidized phosphatidylcholine, consistent with sterol ring specificity. StarD4-accelerated 7α-OOH transfer to mitochondria resulted in greater susceptibility to free radical lipid peroxidation and loss of membrane potential than in a non-StarD4 control. The novel implication of these findings is that in oxidative stress states, inappropriate StAR-mediated trafficking of peroxidized Ch in steroidogenic tissues could result in damage and dysfunction selectively targeted to mitochondria.     

Genomic regions involved in productivity of two interspecific poplar families in Europe. 1. Stem height, circumference and volume

Interspecific hybrids of Populus species are known for their superior growth. In this study, we examined the effect of the genetic background and contrasting environmental conditions on growth and searched for quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting growth traits. To this end, two hybrid poplar families resulting from controlled crosses, Populus deltoides ‘S9-2’ × P. nigra ‘Ghoy’ (D × N, 180 F₁) and P. deltoides ‘S9-2’ × P. trichocarpa ‘V24’ (D × T, 182 F₁), were grown at two contrasting sites, Northern Italy and Central France. At the end of the second growing season, tree dimensions (stem height, circumference, and volume) were assessed. The performances of both families significantly differed within and between sites. Tree volume was significantly larger at the Italian site as compared to the French site. Genotype by environment interactions were significant but low for both families and for all growth traits. Tight correlations among the individual growth traits indicated that there may be a common genetic mechanism with pleiotropic effects on these growth traits. In line with previous studies, linkage groups I, VII, IX, X, XVI, XVII, and XIX appeared to have genomic regions with the largest effects on growth traits. This study revealed that (1) both families have high potential for selection of superior poplar hybrids due to the pronounced heterosis (hybrid vigor) and the large genetic variability in terms of growth and (2) the choice of site is crucial for poplar cultivation. Dillen and Storme contributed equally to the work. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Changes in composition and function of thylakoid membranes as a result of photosynthetic adaptation of chloroplasts from pea plants grown under different light conditions

The hypothesis that chloroplasts having different light-saturated rates of photosynthesis will have different proportions of the intrinsic thylakoid complexes engaged in light-harvesting and electron transport (Anderson, J.M. (1982) Mol. Cell. Biochem. 46, 161–172) has been tested. Peas were grown in light regimes which varied in light intensity, quality and time of irradiance, and ranged from sunlight through red to blue-enriched light of very low radiation. The electron-transport capacity at saturating light of Photosystem I and Photosystem II of chloroplasts isolated from light-adapted peas was 2-fold and 5–6-fold lower, respectively, in the lowest radiation compared to sunlight. There was a marked increase in the amount of total chlorophyll associated with the main chlorophyll $\text{a}\text{b-}\text{proteins}$ (LHCP¹, LHCP² and LHCP³) and a 2-fold decrease in the core reaction centre complex of Photosystem II (CP a) as the radiation decreased; the $\text{LHCP}{}^{\mathrm{1–3}}\text{CP}$ a ratio changed from 3.5 to 9.0. The amount of chlorophyll associated with Photosystem I varied from 34% in sunlight to 27% in the lowest radiation, but the antenna size of Photosystem I was not markedly different; there was a 2-fold decrease in the amount of cytochrome f on a chlorophyll basis, which partly accounted for the decreased electron-transport capacity of Photosystem I. Since the increases or decreases in the levels of each of the components correlated with decreasing radiation, it is clear that the light-adaptation of both light-harvesting and electron-transport components is indeed closely co-ordinated.     

Vegetation and soil seed bank of successional stages in tropical lowland deciduous forest

Abstract. We studied vegetation structure and soil seed bank composition in different successional stages of secondary lowland tropical deciduous forest in Yucatán, Mexico. The series of study sites includes: slashed (S), slashed-and-burned (SB), and regenerating for 1, 6, 10, 15, 30, 40 and 100 yr. Species richness (S = 42 - 65), evenness (E = 0.32 - 0.38), and diversity (H' = 1.2 - 1.6) do not vary much as the forest grows older. 20 species of shrubs and trees were present in at least six of the seven regrowth years studied; 10 of these account for more than 50% of the total density values per regrowth year. These species dominate the vegetation due to their capacity to withstand repeated fire and felling. One third of the individuals sampled had regenerated from coppiced shoots. Species composition little resembles that in earlier accounts. The area is now largely covered by young regrowth stages (1 - 20 yr). Species constituting the original woody structure of the mature forest are rare or absent due to the lack of seed sources and failure of dispersal (which is due to limited dispersal capacities), lack of dispersal agents, or long distances. Herbs were the most important life form in the soil seed banks; only one tree species was found. The number of viable seeds varied between sampled areas: 70/m² in the 40 yr-old, to 1 815/m² in the slashed-and-burned (SB). The vegetation of S- and SB-areas was the same, but the number of viable seeds germinating in SB was twice the number in S; the number of species in the seed bank is the same for both areas. We speculate that fire modifies species dominance early in succession, allowing seeds of some species to germinate in great numbers.     

Structural and functional organization of the photosystems in spinach chloroplasts. Antenna size,relative electron-transport capacity,and chlorophyll composition

The structural and functional organization of the spinach chloroplast photosystems (PS) I, II_α and II_β was investigated. Sensitive absorbance difference spectrophotometry in the ultraviolet (?A₃₂₀) and red (?A₇₀₀) regions of the spectrum provided information on the relative concentration of PS II and PS I reaction centers. The kinetic analysis of PS II and PS I photochemistry under continuous weak excitation provided information on the number (N) of chlorophyll (Chl) molecules transferring excitation energy to PS II_α, PS II_β and PS I. Spinach chloroplasts contained almost twice as many PS II reaction centers compared to PS I reaction centers. The number N_α of chlorophyll (Chl) molecules associated with PS II_α was 234, while N_β = 100 and N_{PS I} = 210. Thus, the functional photosynthetic unit size of PS II reaction centers was different from that of PS I reaction centers. The relative electron-transport capacity of PS II was significantly greater than that of PS I. Hence, under light-limiting green excitation when both Chl a and Chl b molecules are excited equally, the limiting factor in the overall electron-transfer reaction was the turnover of PS I. The Chl composition of PS I, PS II_α and PS II_β was analyzed on the basis of a core Chl a reaction center complex component and a Chl $\text{a}\text{b-}\text{LHC}$ component. There is a dissimilar Chl $\text{a}\text{b-}\text{LHC}$ composition in the three photosystems with 77% of total Chl b associated with PS II_α only. The results indicate that PS II_α, located in the membrane of the grana partition region, is poised to receive excitation from a wider spectral window than PS II_β and PS I.