Responses of photosynthesis and the partition of energy utilization to high-nitrogen importation and high-light intensity in leaves of three dominant tree species of subtropical forest, including sun plant or early-successional species Schima superba, mesophyte or intermediate-successional species Canstanopsis hystrix, and shading-tolerant plant or late-successional species Cryptocarya concinna were studied by using the CO(2) exchange system and chlorophyll fluorescence method. Our results showed that, regardless of plant species, net photosynthetic rate (P (n)) was higher in high-nitrogen supply and high irradiance (HNHL) plants than in low-nitrogen supply and high irradiance (LNHL) plants, implying that low-nitrogen importation would limit P (n) of plants grown under high irradiance. However, high-nitrogen supply and low irradiance (HNLL) plants had a lower P (n). Insignificant change of quantum yield (F (v)'/F (m)') in opened PS II was found in leaves of HNHL, LNHL or HNLL plants of S. superba and C. hystrix, while a higher F (v)'/F (m)' occurred in HNHL plants of C. concinna in comparison with LNHL or HNLL plants. The HNHL plants of C. concinna also had a higher photochemical quantum yield (DeltaF/F (m)') than LNHL or HNLL plants, however no similar responses were found in plants of S. superba and C. hystrix (P <0.05). In the irradiance range of 0-2000 mumol photon.m(-2) .s(-1), the fraction of energy consumed by photochemistry (varphi (PSII)) was 18.2% in LNHL plants of S. superba which was higher than that in HNHL plants (P>0.05) and it was significantly higher than in HNLL plants (P<0.05). C. hystrix also had a similar response in varphi (PSII) to nitrogen supply and irradiance. Regardless of species HNLL plants had a significant varphi (PSII) and higher heat dissipation in light, and this effect was more severe in C. concinna than in S. superba or C. hystrix. The results may mean that high-nitrogen importation by nitrogen deposit and low irradiance caused by changing climate or air pollution would more severely restrict photosynthetic processes in the late-successional species C. concinna than in the early-successional species S. superba and intermediate-successional species C. hystrix. The continuous high-nitrogen precipitation in the future and the over cast mist or pollution smoke could induce late-successional species to degrade, however, early-successional species would be more adapted to competition for more resources to keep their dominance in ecosystems. In this sense, the zonal vegetation may accelerate degradation caused by high nitrogen precipitation and low irradiance, while the early-successional and mesophytic vegetations can remain longer. Thus, nitrogen precipitation may play an important role in plant community succession.