Through a systematic review of 94 pieces of literature related to the impact of floating photovoltaic power stations on aquatic ecological environments, the effects of such power stations on abiotic factors in water bodies (water temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration, nutrient concentration, and pollutant distribution) and aquatic organisms (phytoplankton, aquatic plants, zooplankton, fishes, and birds) were analyzed. It concludes that the photovoltaic panel coverage ratio is the core factor driving ecological effects. Floating photovoltaic power stations reshape phytoplankton community structures through light-thermal coupled stress, inhibit the photosynthesis of submerged plants, alter fish metabolic rhythms and birds' migration behaviors, and trigger cross-trophic-level ecological cascade effects. By combining zonal layout and material optimization while balancing power generation benefits and ecological protection, a dynamic regulatory strategy for the floating photovoltaic coverage ratio is used: Coverage ratio in core water areas should be less than 30%, while that in ecological buffer zones should be set between 30% and 60%. It also points out the need for future research to further analyze the superimposed response mechanisms of photothermal effects and climate change, construct hydrodynamic-ecological coupling models, and promote the development of floating photovoltaic power generation toward a sustainable model featuring multi-energy complementarity and ecological synergy.

Large-scale damming has emerged as a prevalent global trend, significantly impacting nutrient transport and transformation, as well as the downstream ecological environment. Nitrogen and phosphorus are fundamental elements of primary productivity in aquatic ecosystems and serve as key limiting factors in reservoir eutrophication. This review focuses on the impact of damming on the transport and transformation of nitrogen and phosphorus, regarding changes in nutrient concentrations, fluxes, and proportions. Spatial changes in nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations primarily occur at the inlet and outlet of reservoirs, while temporal changes often exhibit seasonal patterns. At a global scale, phosphorus is preferentially removed from reservoirs compared to nitrogen. The factors influencing the transport and transformation processes of nitrogen and phosphorus in reservoirs include the physicochemical properties of water bodies and human activities. Additionally, nitrogen dynamics are affected by reservoir age, storage capacity, and water storage regulation modes, whereas phosphorus dynamics are also influenced by hydrodynamic conditions. Finally, this review summarizes the impact of damming on the downstream ecological environment and outlines future research directions, providing theoretical support for the management of river–reservoir ecosystems and promoting the green and sustainable development of hydropower in the context of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.