Relationships Between Dissolved Organic Matter Composition and Photochemistry in Lakes of Diverse Trophic Status

The North Temperate Lakes Long-Term Ecological Research site includes seven lakes in northern Wisconsin that vary in hydrology, trophic status, and landscape position. We examine the molecular composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM) within these lakes using Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) and quantify DOM photochemical activity using probe compounds. Correlations between the relative intensity of individual molecular formulas and reactive species production demonstrate the influence of DOM composition on photochemistry. For example, highly aromatic, tannin-like formulas correlate positively with triplet formation rates, but negatively with triplet quantum yields, as waters enriched in highly aromatic formulas exhibit much higher rates of light absorption, but only slightly higher rates of triplet production. While commonly utilized optical properties also correlate with DOM composition, the ability of FT-ICR MS to characterize DOM subpopulations provides unique insight into the mechanisms through which DOM source and environmental processing determine composition and photochemical activity.