Gabor, RachelÌý1Ìý;ÌýRussell, NinaÌý2Ìý;ÌýBlum, AlexÌý3Ìý;ÌýEilers, KatieÌý4Ìý;ÌýMcKnight, DianeÌý5

1ÌýINSTAAR and Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado, Â鶹¹ÙÍø, CO, 80302, USA
2ÌýINSTAAR and Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado, Â鶹¹ÙÍø, CO, 80302, USA
3ÌýUnited States Geological Survey, Â鶹¹ÙÍø,80303 CO, USA
4ÌýDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Â鶹¹ÙÍø, CO, 80302, USA
5ÌýINSTAAR and Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, Â鶹¹ÙÍø, CO, 80302, USA

As worldwide trends of increasing DOM concentrations continue to be reported, and their source investigated (Monteith et al., 2007), it is becoming more important to elucidate the link between soluble organic matter in a catchment and dissolved organic matter in the corresponding aquatic system. Within the Â鶹¹ÙÍø Creek Critical Zone Observatory, soil samples were collected along transects and from several deep pits on both south- and north-facing slopes in Â鶹¹ÙÍø Canyon, Colorado. The extractable DOM from each sample was leached with 0.5 M potassium sulfate (Jones and Willett, 2006) and both whole water and fulvic acid fractions were analyzed with UV-VIS and fluorescence spectroscopy. Parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) was then used to model the fluorescence excitation-emission matrices to characterize the chemical properties of the DOM (Cory and McKnight, 2005). While available soluble organic matter was significantly higher at the surface and tended to steadily decrease with depth, amount and chemical character did vary with soil horizon. These results were compared to the chemical signature of the DOM from the stream the catchment feeds. Organic matter from the surface was much more similar to the stream DOM than matter near bedrock. The soil samples from both pits and transects were also analyzed for mineralogical content and microbe population and this data will be used to develop a clear picture of the source, transport, and role of organic matter within both terrestrial and aquatic sections of the catchment.

Monteith D, Stoddard J, Evans C, de Wit H, Forsius M, Hogasen T, Wilander A, Skjelkvale B, Jeffries D, Vuorenmaa J, Keller B, Kopacek J, Vesely J. Nature, 2007; 450: 537-540.

Jones DL, Willett VB. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 2006; 38: 991-999.

Cory RM, McKnight DM. Environ. Sci. Tehcnol., 2005; 39: 8142-8149.