Excitation energy transfer of Arthrospira platensis cells grown in f/2 medium (a high salinity medium) and SOT medium (a control) was investigated by steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopies. Growth in f/2 medium induced changes in absorption and fluorescence spectra as well as in the energy transfer pathways. Excitation energy captured by phycobilisome (PBS) was transferred directly to photosystem (PS) I, instead of being first transferred to an intermediate (PBS -> PSII -> PSI), as observed in SOT medium. The respiration rate increased while photosynthetic rate reduced in f/2 medium. Possible causes of the differences in light-harvesting and energy-transfer processes between the two media are discussed. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.