Traditionally, aquatic ecosystem consumers are considered to mainly feed on primary production derived organic carbon (OC) from contemporary photosynthesis(e.g. algae, macrophytes) or on fresh terrestrial OC from watershed that is less refractory than previously thought. Due to structure stability and stubborn physicochemical feature, some biotical or abiotic OC stored in glacier and permafrost systems for hundreds to thousands years (defined as ancient or highly aged OC) may be hardly incorporated into biogeochemistry process in aquatic ecosystems. Recent studies, however, have increasingly revealed that ancient OC may be an important resource for microbes, zooplankton, invertebrates, and higher trophic consumers such as fish and waterfowl and significantly subsidizes food webs of aquatic ecosystems. The ancient OC of aquatic consumers indicates that a shortage of modern primary production may not necessarily limit or constrain the food supply to consumers in aquatic ecosystems. In this paper, we have summarized the research progresses on the relationship between terrestrial ancient OC and aquatic food webs worldwide, introduced the application of ¹⁴C technology in aquatic ecology, and pointed out the problems existing in the studies and the direction in the future research. This study will promote the research of carbon cycle of aquatic ecosystems in China.