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Excitation emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy combined with PARAFAC analysis provides a fast and effective method of characterizing the fluorescent fraction of dissolved organic matter (DOM). Fluorescence measurements can be used as a tracer for quantitative and qualitative changes occurring in the DOM pool as a whole. An earlier study found that the fluorescence signal could be modeled by five fractions. This study presents an analysis on a considerably larger data set (Ͼ1,200 samples) resulting from a 1-yr sampling program in Horsens Estuary, Denmark. Eight fluorescent fractions were identified. Four biogenic terrestrial, two anthropogenic, and two protein-like fractions were identified. Analysis of covariation between the components identified source-specific fractions and the presence of common factors controlling the composition of terrestrial DOM exported from different catchments.

We present the results of a mesocosm experiment investigating the production and utilization of autochthonous dissolved organic matter (DOM) by the plankton community under different inorganic nutrient regimes. Fluorescence spectroscopy combined with parallel factor analysis was applied to study the dynamics of autochthonous DOM. Seven independent fluorescent fractions were identified, differing in their spectral characteristics, production rates, and sensitivity to photochemical and microbial degradation processes. Five different humic fractions, a marine protein, and a peptide fluorescence were found. The five humic fractions were produced microbially, with the greatest production occurring under combined Si-and P-limiting conditions. The two proteinaceous fractions were produced during exponential growth of phytoplankton, irrespective of biomass composition. Photodegradation was an important sink for the microbially derived humic material, and the marine protein material was susceptible to both photoand microbial degradation.

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1. Data for maximum colonization depth (Zc) of five groups of submerged macrophytes and light attenuation were collected for forty‐five Danish lakes and 108 non‐Danish lakes. The macrophyte groups were bryophytes, charophytes, caulescent angiosperms, rosette‐type angiosperms and Isoetes spp. 2. The data showed systematic differences among the groups in the relationship of Zc to water transparency. In lakes with low transparency (Secchi disc transparency (Zs) less than 7 m) caulescent angiosperms and charophytes penetrated deepest followed by bryophytes and Isoetes spp. In more transparent lakes bryophytes grew deepest, followed by charophytes, caulescent angiosperms and Isoetes spp. Rosette‐type angiosperms had the lowest Zc in all types of lakes. Charophytes and caulescent angiosperms had similar depth limits in lakes with Zs < 4 m but charophytes grew deeper in more transparent lakes. The depth limits of both groups were independent of light penetration in lakes with very low transparency (Zs < 1 m). The annual light exposure for the deepest growing macrophytes (bryophytes) was 20–95 mol photons m–2. 3. The relationship between Zc, macrophyte type and lake transparency could be explained by three distinct processes regulating Zc. In lakes with low transparency (Zs < 1 m), tall macrophytes (caulescent angiosperms and charophytes) compensate for light limitation by shoot growth towards the water surface and Zc is therefore independent of transparency. In lakes with medium transparency (1 m < Zs < 4 m) Zc for angiosperms, charophytes and Isoetes spp. is constrained by light attenuation in the water column, corresponding to a linear relationship between Zc and Zs. This pattern also applies to bryophytes, despite lake transparency. In transparent lakes, the minimum light requirement at Zc increased with increasing transparency for angiosperms, charophytes and Isoetes spp. 4. The minimum light requirements among submersed macrophytes (including marine macroalgae) depend on their plant‐specific carbon value (plant biomass per unit of light‐absorbing surface area) for the species/group, indicating that the light requirements of submersed plants are tightly coupled to the plants’ possibility to harvest light and hence to the growth form. 5. The light requirements increased on average 0.04% surface irradiance per degree increase in latitude corresponding to an average decrease in Zc of 0.12 m per degree latitude.

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