Breadcrumb
Organic Matter Spectroscopy Lab
Breadcrumb
Image: Boulder Reservoir by Richard Saxon
We measure the amount and character of dissolved organic matter from diverse ecosystems, especially aquatic ones. We often combine our lab data with field-scale experiments and modeling to understand of the interactions between hydrologic, chemical and biological processes in controlling the dynamics of these systems.
- Nayoung Hur, MS 2022
- Garrett Rue, PhD 2019
- Alia Lauren Khan, NSF Graduate Research Fellow
- Maggie Burns, MA 2014 in Geography; now Hydrologist
- Rachel Gabor, PhD 2013 in Environmental Studies
- Jessica Ebert, MS 2012
Contact & services
Major equipment includes
- Shimadzu TOC analyzer
- Antec 9000 DON analyzer
- Agilent 8453 spectrophotometer
- FluroMax2 fluorometer
- fractionation columns
- Ulter-filtration
Josh Darling kneels to sample algal mats from a rocky meltwater stream near Canada Glacier in the Dry Valleys of Antarctica
Researcher on the grassy shoreline of an alpine lake in the Rocky Mountains.
Publications
Publications for McKnight are shown below
15N and 13C{14N} NMR investigation of the major nitrogen-containing segment in an aquatic fulvic acid: Evidence for a hydantoin derivative
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Fang X; Mao J; Cory RM; McKnight DM; Schmidt-Rohr K
Published in: Magnetic Resonance in ChemistryPublication Date: 2011-12-01
Type: Journal Article
Hydrologic processes influence diatom community composition in Dry Valley streams
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Stanish LF; Nemergut DR; McKnight DM
Published in: Journal of the North American Benthological SocietyPublication Date: 2011-12-01
Type: Journal Article
Hydrological Connectivity of the Landscape of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica
CU Boulder Authors:
Gooseff, Michael N; McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Gooseff MN; McKnight DM; Doran P; Fountain AG; Lyons WB
Published in: Geography CompassPublication Date: 2011-09-01
Type: Journal Article
Redox character of soil humic material suggests a role in microbial weathering of bedrock surfaces
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Gabor RS; McKnight DM
Published in: ACS National Meeting Book of AbstractsPublication Date: 2011-08-28
Type: Journal Article
When a habitat freezes solid: microorganisms over-winter within the ice column of a coastal Antarctic lake
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Published in: FEMS Microbiology EcologyForeman CM; Dieser M; Greenwood M; Cory RM; Laybourn-Parry J; Lisle JT; Jaros C; Miller PL; Chin Y-P; McKnight DM...
- Foreman CM
- Dieser M
- Greenwood M
- Cory RM
- Laybourn-Parry J
- Lisle JT
- Jaros C
- Miller PL
- Chin Y-P
- McKnight DM
Publication Date: 2011-06-01
Type: Journal Article
Simulating unsteady flow, anabranching, and hyporheic dynamics in a glacial meltwater stream using a coupled surface water routing and groundwater flow model
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie; Neupauer, Roseanna M.
All Authors:
Koch JC; McKnight DM; Neupauer RM
Published in: Water Resources ResearchPublication Date: 2011-05-21
Type: Journal Article
Evaluating the link between nutrient loadings, algal activity, and formation of disinfection byproducts in watersheds
All Authors:
Hohner AK; Khan A; McKnight D; Summers RS; Rosario-Ortiz FL
Published in: ACS National Meeting Book of AbstractsPublication Date: 2011-03-27
Type: Journal Article
Spectral Methods to Advance Understanding of Dissolved Organic Carbon Dynamics in Forested Catchments
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Cory RM; Boyer EW; McKnight DM
Published in: Ecological StudiesPublication Date: 2011-01-01
Type: Chapter
Spatial variations in the geochemistry of glacial meltwater streams in the Taylor Valley, Antarctica
All Authors:
Welch KA; Lyons WB; Whisner C; Gardner CB; Gooseff MN; McKnight DM; Priscu JC
Published in: Antarctic SciencePublication Date: 2010-12-01
Type: Journal Article
Effects of short-term drying and irrigation on CO2 and CH4 production and emission from mesocosms of a northern bog and an alpine fen
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Deppe M; Knorr K-H; McKnight DM; Blodau C
Published in: Biogeochemistry: an international journalPublication Date: 2010-09-01
Type: Journal Article
Communicating with the public: opportunities and rewards for individual ecologists
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Published in: Frontiers in Ecology and the EnvironmentPace ML; Hampton SE; Limburg KE; Bennett EM; Cook EM; Davis AE; Grove JM; Kaneshiro KY; LaDeau SL; Likens GE...
- Pace ML
- Hampton SE
- Limburg KE
- Bennett EM
- Cook EM
- Davis AE
- Grove JM
- Kaneshiro KY
- LaDeau SL
- Likens GE
Publication Date: 2010-08-01
Type: Journal Article
Overcoming "ecophobia": fostering environmental empathy through narrative in children's science literature
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
McKnight DM
Published in: Frontiers in Ecology and the EnvironmentPublication Date: 2010-08-01
Type: Journal Article
New light on a dark subject: comment
CU Boulder Authors:
Williams, Mark W; McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Miller MP; Simone BE; McKnight DM; Cory RM; Williams MW; Boyer EW
Published in: Aquatic Sciences: research across boundariesPublication Date: 2010-06-01
Type: Journal Article
Antarctic McMurdo Dry Valley stream ecosystems as analogue to fluvial systems on Mars
CU Boulder Authors:
Gooseff, Michael N; McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
GOOSEFF MN; McKnight DM; Carr M; Baeseman J
Publication Date: 2010-04-29Type: Chapter
Life in Antarctic Deserts and other Cold Dry Environments
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Doran PT; Lyons WB; McKnight DM
Publication Date: 2010-04-29Type: Book
Physiochemical properties influencing biomass abundance and primary production in Lake Hoare, Antarctica
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Herbei R; Lyons WB; Laybourn-Parry J; Gardner C; Priscu JC; McKnight DM
Published in: Ecological ModellingPublication Date: 2010-04-24
Type: Journal Article
Comparison of seasonal changes in fluorescent dissolved organic matter among aquatic lake and stream sites in the Green Lakes Valley
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Miller MP; McKnight DM
Published in: Journal of Geophysical Research: BiogeosciencesPublication Date: 2010-03-23
Type: Journal Article
Photochemistry of dissolved organic material and its role in aquatic ecosystems
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
McKnight DM
Published in: ACS National Meeting Book of AbstractsPublication Date: 2010-03-21
Type: Journal Article
Influence of organic-matter fractionation by natural iron nanoparticles on copper speciation and aquatic copper toxicity
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Smith KS; Ranville JF; Diedrich DJ; McKnight DM; Sofield RM
Published in: ACS National Meeting Book of AbstractsPublication Date: 2010-03-21
Type: Journal Article
Effect of instrument-specific response on the analysis of fulvic acid fluorescence spectra
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Cory RM; Miller MP; McKnight DM; Guerard JJ; Miller PL
Published in: Limnology and Oceanography: MethodsPublication Date: 2010-02-01
Type: Journal Article
Effect of unsteady flow on nitrate loss in an oligotrophic, glacial meltwater stream
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Koch JC; McKnight DM; Baeseman JL
Published in: Journal of Geophysical Research: BiogeosciencesPublication Date: 2010-01-08
Type: Journal Article
Effects of Short-Term Drying and Irrigation on Electron Flow in Mesocosms of a Northern Bog and an Alpine Fen
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Deppe M; McKnight DM; Blodau C
Published in: Environmental Science and Technology (Washington)Publication Date: 2010-01-01
Type: Journal Article
Dissolved Organic Matter Sources and Consequences for Iron and Arsenic Mobilization in Bangladesh Aquifers
CU Boulder Authors:
Bilinski, Teresa; McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Published in: Environmental Science and Technology (Washington)Mladenov N; Zheng Y; Miller MP; Nemergut DR; Legg T; Simone B; Hageman C; Rahman MM; Ahmed KM; McKnight DM...
- Mladenov N
- Zheng Y
- Miller MP
- Nemergut DR
- Legg T
- Simone B
- Hageman C
- Rahman MM
- Ahmed KM
- McKnight DM
Publication Date: 2010-01-01
Type: Journal Article
Diatoms as indicators of environmental change in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic freshwaters
CU Boulder Authors:
Spaulding, Sarah A; McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Spaulding SA; MCKNIGHT DM; Stanish L; Van de Vijver B; Hodgson D
Publication Date: 2010-01-01Type: Chapter
Analogue stream hydrologic and ecosystem functions
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Gooseff MN; MCKNIGHT DM; Carr MH; Baeseman JL
Publication Date: 2010-01-01Type: Chapter
