Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Spatiotemporal variations of dissolved organic matter in a typical multi-source watershed in northern China: a fluorescent evidence

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The amount of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in a multi-source watershed is important for complete management and assessing the river basin’s long-term safety. Based on this, we study the composition, spatiotemporal changes, and primary sources of DOM using the excitation-emission matrix (EEM) and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). The relationship between DOM composition and water quality was also discussed. It was found that the DOM in the North Canal River watershed was composed of two similar humic acid-like components (230, 335/400 nm and 260, 360/450 nm) and a tryptophan-like component (280/290–350 nm). The intensity of DOM shows obvious seasonal spatiotemporal variations. In terms of time, the relative concentration of DOM in winter is significantly higher than that in other seasons due to the influence of water volume, temperature, and photochemical degradation factors. As for the aspect of space, under the combined effect of land use and multiple sources of pollution, the relative concentration of tryptophan-like in the mainstream was significantly higher than tributaries, while the relative concentration of humic-like components in the tributaries was higher than that in the mainstream. The chief sources of DOM in the North Canal River watershed include human-derived point sources and agricultural non-point sources in the main channel, as well as terrestrial and microbiological sources in the tributaries. Moreover, the composition of DOM is significantly related to water quality indicators, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, which shows that DOM can have an indicative impact on the trophic status in the North Canal River. The findings of this study could have a predictive effect and provide a scientific foundation for water quality monitoring and pollution control in the North Canal River watershed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

All data is provided in full in the results section of this manuscript.

References

  • Arguelho M, Alves J, Monteiro ASC, Garcia CAB (2017) Characterization of dissolved organic matter in an urbanized estuary located in Northeastern Brazil. Environ Monit Assess 189:272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker A (2001) Fluorescence excitation-emission matrix characterization of some sewage-impacted rivers. Environ Sci Technol 35:948–953

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Battin TJ, Luyssaert S, Kaplan LA, Aufdenkampe AK, Richter A, Tranvik LJ (2009) The boundless carbon cycle. Nat Geosci 2:598–600

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharya R, Osburn CL (2020) Spatial patterns in dissolved organic matter composition controlled by watershed characteristics in a coastal river network: The Neuse River Basin, USA. Water Res. 169:115248

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carstea EM, Bridgeman J, Baker A, Reynolds DM (2016) Fluorescence spectroscopy for wastewater monitoring: A review. Water Res 95:205–219

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen M, Jaffe R (2014) Photo- and bio-reactivity patterns of dissolved organic matter from biomass and soil leachates and surface waters in a subtropical wetland. Water Res 61:181–190

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen M, Kim J-H, Nam S-I, Niessen F, Hong W-L, Kang M-H, Hur J (2016) Production of fluorescent dissolved organic matter in Arctic Ocean sediments. Sci Rep 6:39213–39213

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Yu K, Zhou Y, Ren L, Kirumba G, Zhang B, He Y (2017) Characterizing spatiotemporal variations of chromophoric dissolved organic matter in headwater catchment of a key drinking water source in China. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 24:27799–27812

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dai G, Wang B, Huang J, Dong R, Deng S, Yu G (2015) Occurrence and source apportionment of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the Beiyun River of Beijing, China. Chemosphere 119:1033–1039

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dalmagro HJ, Johnson MS, de Musis CR, Lathuilliere MJ, Graesser J, Pinto OB, Couto EG (2017) Spatial patterns of DOC concentration and DOM optical properties in a Brazilian tropical river-wetland system. J Geophys Res-Biogeosci 122:1883–1902

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Derrien M, Kim MS, Ock G, Hong S, Cho J, Shin KH, Hur J (2018) Estimation of different source contributions to sediment organic matter in an agricultural-forested watershed using end member mixing analyses based on stable isotope ratios and fluorescence spectroscopy. Sci Total Environ 618:569–578

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Di XW, Peng SL, Liu JX, Xiao BY (2012) Analysis of the fluorescence distribution characteristics of dissolved organic matter in water of two typical drainage rivers in Tianjin. Acta Sci Circumst 32(9):2140–2147 (in Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fellman JB, Hood E, Spencer RGM (2010) Fluorescence spectroscopy opens new windows into dissolved organic matter dynamics in freshwater ecosystems: A review. Limnol Oceanogr 55:2452–2462

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fuss T, Behounek B, Ulseth AJ, Singer GA (2017) Land use controls stream ecosystem metabolism by shifting dissolved organic matter and nutrient regimes. Freshwater Biol 62:582–599

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gonsior M, Hertkorn N, Conte MH, Cooper WJ, Bastviken D, Druffel E, Schmitt-Kopplin P (2014) Photochemical production of polyols arising from significant photo-transformation of dissolved organic matter in the oligotrophic surface ocean. Mar Chem 163:10–18

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Graeber D, Gelbrecht J, Pusch MT, Anlanger C, von Schiller D (2012) Agriculture has changed the amount and composition of dissolved organic matter in Central European headwater streams. Sci Total Environ 438:435–446

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Graham AM, Aiken GR, Gilmour CC (2012) Dissolved Organic Matter Enhances Microbial Mercury Methylation Under Sulfidic Conditions. Environ Sci Technol 46:2715–2723

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gu N, Song Q, Yang X, Yu X, Li X, Li G (2020) Fluorescence characteristics and biodegradability of dissolved organic matter (DOM) leached from non-point sources in southeastern China. Environ. Pollut. 258:113807

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo W, Yang L, Zhai W, Chen W, Osburn CL, Huang X, Li Y (2014) Runoff-mediated seasonal oscillation in the dynamics of dissolved organic matter in different branches of a large bifurcated estuary-The Changjiang Estuary. J Geophys Res-Biogeosci 119:776–793

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo Q, Wang C, Wei R, Zhu G, Cui M, Okolic CP (2020) Qualitative and quantitative analysis of source for organic carbon and nitrogen in sediments of rivers and lakes based on stable isotopes. Ecotox. Environ. Saf. 195:110436

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen AM, Kraus TEC, Pellerin BA, Fleck JA, Downing BD, Bergamaschi BA (2016) Optical properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM): Effects of biological and photolytic degradation. Limnol Oceanogr 61:1015–1032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson RK, Baker A, Murphy KR, Hambly A, Stuetz RM, Khan SJ (2009) Fluorescence as a potential monitoring tool for recycled water systems: A review. Water Res 43:863–881

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hosen JD, McDonough OT, Febria CM, Palmer MA (2014) Dissolved Organic Matter Quality and Bioavailability Changes Across an Urbanization Gradient in Headwater Streams. Environ Sci Technol 48:7817–7824

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Houben AJ, French TD, Kokelj SV, Wang X, Smol JP, Blais JM (2016) The impacts of permafrost thaw slump events on limnological variables in upland tundra lakes, Mackenzie Delta region. Fund Appl Limnol 189:11–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang T, Skyllberg U, Bjorn E, Green NW, Tang J, Wang D, Gao J, Li C (2017) Characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and relationship with dissolved mercury in Xiaoqing River-Laizhou Bay estuary, Bohai Sea. China Environ Pollut 223:19–30

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang T, Chen X, Wang D, Liang J, Bai W, Zhang C, Wang Q, Wei S (2018) Dynamics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in a typical inland lake of the Three Gorges Reservoir area: Fluorescent properties and their implications for dissolved mercury species. J Environ Manage 206:418–429

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Juhls B, Overduin PP, Holemann J, Hieronymi M, Matsuoka A, Heim B, Fischer J (2019) Dissolved organic matter at the fluvial-marine transition in the Laptev Sea using in situ data and ocean colour remote sensing. Biogeosciences 16:2693–2713

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kamjunke N, von Tümpling W, Hertkorn N, Harir M, Schmitt-Kopplin P, Norf H, Weitere M, Herzsprung P (2017) A new approach for evaluating transformations of dissolved organic matter (DOM) via high-resolution mass spectrometry and relating it to bacterial activity. Water Res 123:513–523

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kikuchi T, Fujii M, Terao K, Jiwei R, Lee YP, Yoshimura C (2017) Correlations between aromaticity of dissolved organic matter and trace metal concentrations in natural and effluent waters: A case study in the Sagami River Basin. Japan Sci Total Environ 576:36–45

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Korak JA, Dotson AD, Summers RS, Rosario-Ortiz FL (2014) Critical analysis of commonly used fluorescence metrics to characterize dissolved organic matter. Water Res 49:327–338

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lambert T, Bouillon S, Darchambeau F, Morana C, Roland FAE, Descy JP, Borges AV (2017) Effects of human land use on the terrestrial and aquatic sources of fluvial organic matter in a temperate river basin (The Meuse River, Belgium). Biogeochemistry 136:191–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Wang S, Zhang L (2015) Composition, source characteristic and indication of eutrophication of dissolved organic matter in the sediments of Erhai Lake. Environ Earth Sci 74:3739–3751

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Zhang L, Wang S, Zhao H, Zhang R (2016) Composition, structural characteristics and indication of water quality of dissolved organic matter in Dongting Lake sediments. Ecol Eng 97:370–380

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li L, Wang Y, Zhang W, Yu S, Wang X, Gao N (2020) New advances in fluorescence excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy for the characterization of dissolved organic matter in drinking water treatment: A review. Chem. Eng. J. 381:122676

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Shen Z, Chen L (2018a) Assessing how spatial variations of land use pattern affect water quality across a typical urbanized watershed in Beijing. China Landscape and Urban Plan 176:51–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Shen Z, Yan T, Yang Y (2018b) Source identification and impact of landscape pattern on riverine nitrogen pollution in a typical urbanized watershed, Beijing. China Sci Total Environ 628–629:1296–1307

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Q, Jiang Y, Tian Y, Hou Z, He K, Fu L, Xu H (2019a) Impact of land use on the DOM composition in different seasons in a subtropical river flowing through a region undergoing rapid urbanization. J Clean Prod 212:1224–1231

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Wang X, Wen Q, Zhu N (2019b) Identifying sources and variations of organic matter in an urban river in Beijing, China using stable isotope analysis. Ecol Indic 102:783–790

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lozovik PA, Morozov AK, Zobkov MB, Dukhovicheva TA, Osipova LA (2007) Allochthonous and autochthonous organic matter in surface waters in Karelia. Water Res 34:204–216

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lyu L, Liu G, Shang Y, Wen Z, Hou J, Song K (2021) Characterization of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in an urbanized watershed using spectroscopic analysis. Chemosphere 277:130210

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ma Y, Mao R, Li S (2021) Hydrological seasonality largely contributes to riverine dissolved organic matter chemical composition: Insights from EEM-PARAFAC and optical indicators. J. Hydrol. 595:125993

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meng F, Huang G, Yang X, Li Z, Li J, Cao J, Wang Z, Sun L (2013) Identifying the sources and fate of anthropogenically impacted dissolved organic matter (DOM) in urbanized rivers. Water Res 47:5027–5039

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy KR, Butler KD, Spencer RGM, Stedmon CA, Boehme JR, Aiken GR (2010) Measurement of Dissolved Organic Matter Fluorescence in Aquatic Environments: An Interlaboratory Comparison. Environ Sci Technol 44:9405–9412

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy KR, Hambly A, Singh S, Henderson RK, Baker A, Stuetz R, Khan SJ (2011) Organic Matter Fluorescence in Municipal Water Recycling Schemes: Toward a Unified PARAFAC Model. Environ Sci Technol 45:2909–2916

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy KR, Stedmon CA, Graeber D, Bro R (2013) Fluorescence spectroscopy and multi-way techniques. PARAFAC Anal Methods 5(23):6557–6566

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Painter SC, Lapworth DJ, Woodward EMS, Kroeger S, Evans CD, Mayor DJ, Sanders RJ (2018) Terrestrial dissolved organic matter distribution in the North Sea. Sci Total Environ 630:630–647

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parr TB, Cronan CS, Ohno T, Findlay SEG, Smith SMC, Simon KS (2015) Urbanization changes the composition and bioavailability of dissolved organic matter in headwater streams. Limnol Oceanogr 60:885–900

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qiao M, Fu L, Li Z, Liu D, Bai Y, Zhao X (2020) Distribution and ecological risk of substituted and parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface waters of the Bai, Chao, and Chaobai rivers in northern China. Environ. Pollut. 257:113600

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ren H, Fan T, Yao X, Ma F, Liu L, Ming J, Wang S, Zhang Y, Deng H (2021) Investigation of the variations in dissolved organic matter properties and complexations with two typical heavy metals under the influence of biodegradation: A survey of an entire lake. Sci Total Environ 806:150485

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Retelletti Brogi S, Ha SY, Kim K, Derrien M, Lee YK, Hur J (2018) Optical and molecular characterization of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the Arctic ice core and the underlying seawater (Cambridge Bay, Canada): Implication for increased autochthonous DOM during ice melting. Sci Total Environ 627:802–811

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shammi M, Pan XL, Mostofa KMG, Zhang DY, Liu CQ (2017) Photo-flocculation of microbial mat extracellular polymeric substances and their transformation into transparent exopolymer particles: Chemical and spectroscopic evidences. Sci Rep 7:12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shang P, Lu Y, Du Y, Jaffe R, Findlay RH, Wynn A (2018) Climatic and watershed controls of dissolved organic matter variation in streams across a gradient of agricultural land use. Sci Total Environ 612:1442–1453

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shin Y, Lee E-J, Jeon Y-J, Hur J, Oh N-H (2016) Hydrological changes of DOM composition and biodegradability of rivers in temperate monsoon climates. J Hydrol 540:538–548

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • State Environmental Protection Admistration of China (2002) Determination Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater, fourth ed. China Environment Science Press. Beijing

  • Stedmon CA, Bro R (2008) Characterizing dissolved organic matter fluorescence with parallel factor analysis: a tutorial. Limnol Oceanogr Meth 6:572–579

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stedmon CA, Markager S (2005) Tracing the production and degradation of autochthonous fractions of dissolved organic matter by fluorescence analysis. Limnol Oceanogr 50:1415–1426

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stedmon CA, Markager S, Bro R (2003) Tracing dissolved organic matter in aquatic environments using a new approach to fluorescence spectroscopy. Mar Chem 82:239–254

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tang J, Li X, Luo Y, Li G, Khan S (2016) Spectroscopic characterization of dissolved organic matter derived from different biochars and their polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) binding affinity. Chemosphere 152:399–406

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tang J, Li X, Cao C, Lin M, Qiu Q, Xu Y, Ren Y (2019) Compositional variety of dissolved organic matter and its correlation with water quality in peri-urban and urban river watersheds. Ecol Indic 104:459–469

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vignudelli S, Santinelli C, Murru E, Nannicini L, Seritti A (2004) Distributions of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in coastal waters of the northern Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy). Estuar Coastal Shelf S 60:133–149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang M, Chen Y (2018) Generation and characterization of DOM in wastewater treatment processes. Chemosphere 201:96–109

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Zhang F, Kung H-T, Ghulam A, Trumbo AL, Yang J, Ren Y, Jing Y (2017) Evaluation and estimation of surface water quality in an arid region based on EEM-PARAFAC and 3D fluorescence spectral index: A case study of the Ebinur Lake Watershed. China Catena 155:62–74

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Hu Y, Yang C, Wang Q, Jiang D (2019) Variations of DOM quantity and compositions along WWTPs-river-lake continuum: Implications for watershed environmental management. Chemosphere 218:468–476

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Williams CJ, Frost PC, Xenopoulos MA (2013) Beyond best management practices: pelagic biogeochemical dynamics in urban stormwater ponds. Ecol Appl 23:1384–1395

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams CJ, Frost PC, Morales-Williams AM, Larson JH, Richardson WB, Chiandet AS, Xenopoulos MA (2016) Human activities cause distinct dissolved organic matter composition across freshwater ecosystems. Glob Change Biol 22:613–626

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamashita Y, Jaffe R, Maie N, Tanoue E (2008) Assessing the dynamics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in coastal environments by excitation emission matrix fluorescence and parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC). Limnol Oceanogr 53:1900–1908

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yan JL, Jiang T, Gao J, Wei SQ, Lu S, Liu J (2015) Characteristics of absorption and fluorescence spectra of dissolved organic matter from confluence of rivers: case study of Qujiang River-Jialing River and Fujiang River-Jialing River. Environ Sci 36:869–878 ((in Chinese))

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang X, Yu X, Cheng J, Zheng R, Wang K, Dai Y, Tong N, Chow AT (2018) Impacts of land-use on surface waters at the watershed scale in southeastern China: Insight from fluorescence excitation-emission matrix and PARAFAC. Sci Total Environ 627:647–657

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu J, Xiao K, Xue W, Shen Y-X, Tan J, Liang S, Wang Y, Huang X (2020) Excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy for characterization of organic matter in membrane bioreactors: Principles, methods, and applications. Front Env Sci Eng 14(2):31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zaitseva AF, Konyukhov IV, Kazimirko YV, Pogosyan SI (2018) Optical Characteristics and Distribution of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter in Onega Bay (White Sea) during the Summer Season (Findings from an Expedition from June 22 to 26, 2015). Oceanology 58:233–239

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang X, Zhi X, Chen L, Shen Z (2020) Spatiotemporal variability and key influencing factors of river fecal coliform within a typical complex watershed. Water Res 178:115835

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Y, Song K, Wen Z, Fang C, Shang Y, Lv L (2017) Evaluation of CDOM sources and their links with water quality in the lakes of Northeast China using fluorescence spectroscopy. J Hydrol 550:80–91

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao H, Cui J, Wang S, Lindley S (2018) Customizing the coefficients of urban domestic pollutant discharge and their driving mechanisms: Evidence from the Taihu Basin. China J Environ Manage 213:247–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng L, Song Z, Meng P, Fang Z (2016) Seasonal characterization and identification of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the Pearl River. China Environ Sci Pollut r 23:7462–7469

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou B, Ye H, Zhang H, Li M (2016) Process monitoring of iron-making process in a blast furnace with PCA-based methods. Control Eng Pract 47:1–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu LJ, Zhao Y, Chen YN, Cui HY, Wei YQ, Liu HL, Chen XM, Wei ZM (2018) Characterization of atrazine binding to dissolved organic matter of soil under different types of land use. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 147:1065–1072

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the Major Science and Technology Program for Water Pollution Control and Treatment (No. 2018ZX07111003), and National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41977142).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

Baichuan Jin: experiment, software, writing—original draft preparation.

Zuhong Lin: data curation, editing.

Weiyi Liu: experiment, data curation.

Yong Xiao: funding acquisition, supervision.

Yuan Meng: editing.

Xiaolong Yao: editing.

Tingting Zhang: funding acquisition, writing—review & editing.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Yong Xiao or Tingting Zhang.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

Not applicable.

Consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Christian Gagnon

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 1315 KB)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jin, B., Lin, Z., Liu, W. et al. Spatiotemporal variations of dissolved organic matter in a typical multi-source watershed in northern China: a fluorescent evidence. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 20517–20529 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-17282-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-17282-z

Keywords

Navigation