Composition characteristics and source identification of dissolved organic matter in medium and eutrophic urban lakes in Nanjing

WANG Hua-zi; HU Si-wen; ZUO Teng-teng; TONG Xing-zi; ZHANG Xuan-qi; ZHOU Yi-hao; ZHAO Da-yong

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China Environmental Science ›› 2025, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (5) : 2520-2529.

Composition characteristics and source identification of dissolved organic matter in medium and eutrophic urban lakes in Nanjing

WANG Hua-zi, HU Si-wen, ZUO Teng-teng, TONG Xing-zi, ZHANG Xuan-qi, ZHOU Yi-hao, ZHAO Da-yong

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Abstract

A total of 78 water samples from mesotrophic and eutrophic urban lakes in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China were systematically analysed using three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) to characterize dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition and sources as well as their links with water physiochemistry parameters. This study was designed to unravel the effects of eutrophication on the fluorescence characteristics of DOM and its influence pathway. Three distinct fluorescent components were identified: anthropogenic-derived humic-like substances (C1), terrestrial humic-like substances (C2), and microbial-produced protein-like substances (C3). Eutrophic urban lakes exhibited significantly higher fluorescence intensities in both C2 and C3 relative to mesotrophic urban lakes. Fluorescence indices confirmed dual DOM sources-terrestrial inputs and autochthonous production. Meanwhile, although the humification index of DOM in mesotrophic urban lakes exceeded that in eutrophic urban lakes, the humification index of DOM was below 1.0 for all samples. Moreover, the biological index of DOM exhibited an increasing trend with the elevation of trophic status of water column. Additionally, significantly elevated Chla concentration were observed in eutrophic lakes compared to mesotrophic lakes. Strong positive correlations were identified between Chla concentration and the fluorescence intensity of C2 and C3 components alongside the biological index of DOM, suggesting that eutrophication may induced autochthonous DOM by stimulating algae reproduction.

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compositionalcharacteristics / dissolved organic matter / eutrophication / source analysis / three-dimensional fluorescence spectra / urban lakes

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WANG Hua-zi, HU Si-wen, ZUO Teng-teng, TONG Xing-zi, ZHANG Xuan-qi, ZHOU Yi-hao, ZHAO Da-yong. Composition characteristics and source identification of dissolved organic matter in medium and eutrophic urban lakes in Nanjing[J]. China Environmental Science. 2025, 45(5): 2520-2529

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