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.
Diane McKnight
Director
Lane Allen
PhD student
Natalie Aranda
Grad student
Jared Collins
Grad student
Lauren Magliozzi
Grad student
Mia Vanderwilt
Grad student
- 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
News
Rare earth elements and old mines spell trouble for Western water supplies
Acid rock and mine drainage into Western streams is a problem. Climate change is making it worse. Read more
Publications
Publications for McKnight are shown below
Factors controlling streambed coverage of Didymosphenia geminata in two regulated streams in the Colorado Front Range
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Miller MP; McKnight DM; Cullis JD; Greene A; Vietti K; Liptzin D
Published in: Hydrobiologia: the international journal on limnology and marine sciencesPublication Date: 2009-09-01
Type: Journal Article
Life in the ice cover and underlying cold brines of Lake Vida, Antarctica
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Murray AE; Fritsen CH; Kenig F; McKay CM; McKnight DM; Cawley K; Doran PT
Published in: Geochimica et Cosmochimica ActaPublication Date: 2009-06-01
Type: Journal Article
Production of microbially-derived fulvic acid from photolysis of quinone-containing extracellular products of phytoplankton
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Miller MP; McKnight DM; Chapra SC
Published in: Aquatic Sciences: research across boundariesPublication Date: 2009-06-01
Type: Journal Article
Response of the Phytoplankton Community in an Alpine Lake to Drought Conditions: Colorado Rocky Mountain Front Range, USA
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Flanagan CM; McKnight DM; Liptzin D; Williams MW; Miller MP
Published in: Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine ResearchPublication Date: 2009-05-01
Type: Journal Article
Spatial and temporal variations in DOM composition in ecosystems: The importance of long-term monitoring of optical properties
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Jaffe R; McKnight D; Maie N; Cory R; McDowell WH; Campbell JL
Published in: Journal of Geophysical Research: BiogeosciencesPublication Date: 2008-12-19
Type: Journal Article
Inland diatoms from the McMurdo Dry Valleys and James Ross Island, Antarctica
All Authors:
Esposito RMM; Spaulding SA; McKnight DM; de Vijver BV; Kopalova K; Lubinski D; Hall B; Whittaker T
Published in: BotanyPublication Date: 2008-12-01
Type: Journal Article
Hydrologic response to extreme warm and cold summers in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, East Antarctica
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Doran PT; McKay CP; Fountain AG; Nylen T; Mcknight DM; Jaros C; Barrett JE
Published in: Antarctic SciencePublication Date: 2008-10-01
Type: Journal Article
High-latitude rivers and streams
CU Boulder Authors:
Gooseff, Mike; McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
McKnight DM; Gooseff MN; Vincent WF; Peterson BJ
Publication Date: 2008-09-11Type: Chapter
High Latitude Rivers and Streams
CU Boulder Authors:
Gooseff, Mike; McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
GOOSEFF MN; McKnight DM; Vincent WF; Peterson BJ
Publication Date: 2008-09-11Type: Chapter
Dissolved organic matter accumulation, reactivity, and redox state in ground water of a recharge wetland
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Mladenov N; Huntsman-Mapila P; Wolski P; Masarnba WRL; McKnight DM
Published in: Wetlands: the journal of the Society of Wetland ScientistsPublication Date: 2008-09-01
Type: Journal Article
Effects of nutrient enrichment on phytoplankton in an alpine lake, Colorado, USA
CU Boulder Authors:
Lewis, William M, Jr.; McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Gardner EM; McKnight DM; Lewis WM; Miller MP
Published in: Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine ResearchPublication Date: 2008-02-01
Type: Journal Article
Chemical characteristics of fulvic acids from Arctic surface waters: Microbial contributions and photochemical transformations
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Cory RM; McKnight DM; Chin Y-P; Miller P; Jaros CL
Published in: Journal of Geophysical Research: BiogeosciencesPublication Date: 2007-12-07
Type: Journal Article
Reactivation of a cryptobiotic stream ecosystem in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica: A long-term geomorphological experiment
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
McKnight DM; Tate CM; Andrews ED; Niyogi DK; Cozzetto K; Welch K; Lyons WB; Capone DG
Published in: GeomorphologyPublication Date: 2007-09-01
Type: Journal Article
Effects of acid rock drainage on stocked rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): An in-situ, caged fish experiment
CU Boulder Authors:
Marchitto, Tom; McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Todd AS; McKnight DM; Jaros CL; Marchitto TM
Published in: Environmental Monitoring and AssessmentPublication Date: 2007-07-01
Type: Journal Article
Probing the oxidation-reduction properties of terrestrially and microbially derived dissolved organic matter
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Fimmen RL; Cory RM; Chin Y-P; Trouts TD; McKnight DM
Published in: Geochimica et Cosmochimica ActaPublication Date: 2007-06-15
Type: Journal Article
Sources and fates of dissolved organic carbon in lakes as determined by whole-lake carbon isotope additions
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Bade DL; Carpenter SR; Cole JJ; Pace ML; Kritzberg E; Van de Bogert MC; Cory RM; McKnight DM
Published in: Biogeochemistry: an international journalPublication Date: 2007-06-01
Type: Journal Article
Photooxidation of wetland and riverine dissolved organic matter: altered copper complexation and organic composition
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Brooks ML; Meyer JS; McKnight DM
Published in: Hydrobiologia: the international journal on limnology and marine sciencesPublication Date: 2007-03-01
Type: Journal Article
Photochemical control of copper complexation by dissolved organic matter in Rocky Mountain streams, Colorado
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Brooks ML; McKnight DM; Clements WH
Published in: Limnology and OceanographyPublication Date: 2007-03-01
Type: Journal Article
Biogeochemical stoichiometry of Antarctic Dry Valley ecosystems
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Published in: Journal of Geophysical Research: BiogeosciencesBarrett JE; Virginia RA; Lyons WB; McKnight DM; Priscu JC; Doran PT; Fountain AG; Wall DH; Moorhead DL...
- Barrett JE
- Virginia RA
- Lyons WB
- McKnight DM
- Priscu JC
- Doran PT
- Fountain AG
- Wall DH
- Moorhead DL
Publication Date: 2007-02-07
Type: Journal Article
Chemical characterization of DOM in channels of a seasonal wetland
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Mladenov N; McKnight DM; Macko SA; Norris M; Cory RM; Ramberg L
Published in: Aquatic Sciences: research across boundariesPublication Date: 2007-01-01
Type: Journal Article
Characterization of a nitrogen-rich fulvic acid and its precursor algae from solid state NMR
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Mao J; Cory RM; McKnight DM; Schmidt-Rohr K
Published in: Organic GeochemistryPublication Date: 2007-01-01
Type: Journal Article
Hyporheic exchange and fulvic acid redox reactions in an alpine stream/wetland ecosystem, Colorado front range
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Miller MP; McKnight DM; Cory RM; Williams MW; Runkel RL
Published in: Environmental Science and Technology (Washington)Publication Date: 2006-10-01
Type: Journal Article
Antarctic climate cooling and response of diatoms in glacial meltwater streams
All Authors:
Esposito RMM; Horn SL; McKnight DM; Cox MJ; Grant MC; Spaulding SA; Doran PT; Cozzetto KD
Published in: Geophysical Research LettersPublication Date: 2006-04-15
Type: Journal Article
A stable isotopic investigation of a polar desert hydrologic system, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica
All Authors:
Gooseff MN; Lyons WB; McKnight DM; Vaughn BH; Fountain AG; Dowling C
Published in: Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine ResearchPublication Date: 2006-02-01
Type: Journal Article
Spatial and temporal active layer dynamics along three glacial meltwater streams in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica
CU Boulder Authors:
McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Conovitz PA; MacDonald LH; McKnight DM
Published in: Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine ResearchPublication Date: 2006-02-01
Type: Journal Article