How does thermal stratification restructure zooplankton ecological functions in reservoirs: a hypothesis based on self-organised criticality theory

To clarify the mechanism by which reservoir thermal stratification influences the succession of zooplankton functional groups, this paper systematically reviews the national and international research progress and future development trends concerning both reservoir thermal stratification and zooplankton functional groups. Drawing on a systematic literature review and the theory of Self-organised Criticality (SOC), it proposes a novel quantitative research framework and explicates the logical chain through which the dynamic process of thermal stratification drives habitat differentiation, reorganises the topological structure of zooplankton functional-group interaction networks and consequently directs the community towards a self-organised critical state. The paper identifies the key scientific question that urgently requires resolution in this field as “How does the reservoir thermal stratification process drive zooplankton functional groups towards a self-organised critical state?” In response, three research priorities are established: (1) the driving effect of reservoir thermal stratification on zooplankton habitat differentiation; (2) the effect of habitat differentiation on the topological structure of zooplankton functional-group interaction networks; (3) the role of zooplankton functional-group interaction networks in determining the probability of occurrence of SOC states. It is worth emphasising that the SOC state is here construed as a probabilistic rather than an inevitable condition, contingent upon site-specific environmental circumstances. This research may offer scientific support for refining the theoretical framework of reservoir ecology and for strengthening adaptive reservoir management under extreme high-temperature conditions.