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Reservoirs can be considered favourable environments to the development of zooplankton communities, which may establish diversified assemblages in relatively short periods of time after the impoundment. The structure is usually complex, regarding both taxonomic and trophic aspects. Some ecological concepts and theories can be applied in explaining the main processes operating in zooplankton communities and reservoir functioning as a whole.

Succession theory is fully evidenced during the colonization of newly created reservoirs. Severe abiotic conditions in the first stages of Amazon reservoirs control the arrival and promote the development of r strategists pioneers, such as species of Protozoa and Rotifera and later colonization of k strategists such as Calanoida copepods. Age is an important factor, and old reservoirs tend to display higher richness of species, unless prevented by pollution and contamination such as acid rain, industrial effluents or oil spills. Morphometry related to size and shape of reservoirs is also one of the fundamental characteristics influencing community diversity as observed for zooplankton. Large and dendritic reservoirs enhance zooplankton richness, corroborating the spatial heterogeneity hypothesis of diversity.