Abstract
The implementation of water surface photovoltaic (WSPV) systems as a source of renewable power has expanded rapidly worldwide in recent decades. WSPV prevents negative impacts on terrestrial ecosystems, while the impacts on aquatic physiochemical traits and biodiversity are unclear. To understand the ecological and environmental impacts of WSPV systems, we conducted a field survey on water physicochemical parameters, plankton, and birds of 26 WSPV systems in the Yangtze River basin in China during the winter and summer of 2022. We found that WSPV systems decreased water temperature, dissolved oxygen and uncovered area of the water surface, which caused a reduction in species richness and individual density and altered the community composition of plankton. WSPV systems also caused an overall decrease in bird diversity and changed bird community compositions. These findings suggested that WSPV systems have long-term impacts on the water ecology and environment.