By

Ebert, JessicaÌý1Ìý;ÌýMcKnight, DianeÌý2

1ÌýUniversity of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥
2ÌýUniversity of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is present in all aquatic ecosystems and plays and important role in the global carbon cycle. DOM can be characterized using fluorescence spectroscopy. The measurements that are collected from a DOM fluorescence scan are commonly referred to as three dimensional excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) (Coble et al, 1990; McKnight et al 2001). In this study EEMs were run through an already established model (Cory and McKnight 2005), but we were left with areas of high residuals, e.g. areas of the EEM that were not modeled as well as one would like. Therefore, these results identified the need for the creation of a new model; one specialized towards fluorescence data for DOM enriched in microbial products. The new model used samples taken from 3 low humic sites and 2 microbial incubations. Using parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) a 5-component model was validated, with several components being microbial in origin.

Coble, P., Green, S.A., Blough, N.V., Gagosian, R.B. (1990) Characterization of DOM in the Black Sea by fluorescence spectroscopy. Nature. 348, 432-435

Cory, R.M., McKnight, D.M. (2005) Fluorescence spectroscopy reveals ubiquitous presence of oxidized and reduced quinones in DOM. Environmental Science and Technology. 39, 8142-8149

McKnight, D.M., Boyer, E.W., Westerhoff, P.K., Doran, P.T., Kulbe, T., Andersen, D.T. (2001) Spectrofluorometric characterization of DOM for indication of precursor material and aromaticity. Limnology and Oceanography. 46, 38-48