Dam　construction　and　fish　culture　can　change　the　biogeochemical　processes　in　river,　yet　their　impact　on　the　spectral　properties　of　particulate　organic　matter　(POM)　remains　to　be　studied.　This　was　investigated　in　a　reservoir-type　river　(Minjiang　river,　SE　China)　using　absorption　spectroscopy　and　fluorescence　excitation-emission　matrices-parallel　factor　analysis　(EEMs-PARAFAC).　Five　fluorescent　components　were　identified　from　POM　with　PARAFAC.　Four　components　C1–C4　were　affected　by　the　seasonal　variations　of　rainfall　and　runoff,　indicating　the　influences　of　hydrological　condition　and　terrestrial　inputs.　The　Chlorophyll　a　concentration　(Chl　a)　correlated　significantly　with　the　humic-like　C3　(p　<　0.05)　and　the　protein-like　C4　(p　<　0.01),　indicating　phytoplankton　was　an　important　source　of　C3　and　C4.　The　Chl　a　and　fluorescence　intensities　of　C3–C4　were　higher　in　the　fish　culture　zones　than　in　other　areas,　and　the　absorption　coefficient　a300　and　C1–C4　were　lower　downstream　the　dam.　These　results　indicated　that　fish　farming　in　the　reservoir　probably　promoted　the　production　of　POM.　The　a300　and　C1　per　unit　mass　of　suspended　particulate　matter　(a300/TSM　and　C1/TSM)　correlated　significantly　with　the　median　particle　size　(p　<　0.01),　which　might　be　related　to　the　contribution　of　micro-phytoplankton.　The　absorption　spectra　of　POM　showed　a　shoulder　peak　at　∼280　nm,　and　its　intensity　correlated　significantly　and　positively　with　Chl　a　(p　<　0.01).　These　results　indicated　that　the　peak　was　probably　derived　from　phytoplankton　production.　Our　results　have　implications　for　better　understanding　the　influences　of　human　activities　on　the　dynamics　of　river　POM.　©　2019　Elsevier　Ltd