Ecosystem Literature ReviewAquatic ecosystems are home to some of the most diverse life forms on the planet. From plankton and plants to fish and even large mammals, the aquatic ecosystem shelters such a diverse array of life that few other ecosystems will ever compare in such a broad scope. In the aquatic ecosystem there are many factors that allow biotic life to thrive. Some of these factors include biodiversity, energy flow and nutrient cycling. These factors not only allow aquatic ecosystem function to thrive, but also allow other factors to function properly. Ecosystem function can be seen as "the collective metabolic activities of organisms within a habitat consume energy and move matter between organic" and inorganic pools. Biodiversity helps the ecosystem to keep these actives in place. stable manner. (Shahid 2002). Biodiversity, which is both genetic and ecological diversity in an ecosystem, allows an ecosystem to react and survive under changing conditions (Hooper/ et all 2005). be described as the “security blanket” because biodiversity helps promote the resilience of an ecosystem, which is achieved through interactions between biota and their environment (Cropp and Gabric 2002). As biodiversity increases, it also increases an ecosystem's ability to overcome not only physical challenges, but also its ability to combat invasive species. This ability to combat "local invasions" occurs because native species utilize the limited resources found in an area. So, if an invasive species tries to colonize an area with high biodiversity, it will have many problems due to the limited amount of r...... middle of paper...... Paradigm. Ecology. 83(6): 1537-1552.Srivastava Diane S., Vellend. 2005. Research on biodiversity-ecosystem function: is it relevant for conservation?. Annual review of ecology, evolution and systematics. 36: 267-294. Stachowicz John J., Fried Heather, Osman Richard W., Whitlatch Robert B.. 2002. Biodiversity, invasion resistance, and marine ecosystem function: reconciling models and processes. Ecology. 83(9): 2575-2590.Vanni Michael J.. 2002. Nutrient cycling by animals in freshwater ecosystems. Annual review of ecology and systematics. 33:341-370.Vanni Michael J., Bowling Anne M., Dickman Elizabeth M., Hale Scott R., Higgins Karen A.,Horgan Martin J., Knoll Lesley B., Renwick William H., Stein Roy A. 2006. Nutrient cycling by fish supports relatively greater primary production as lake productivity increases. Ecology. 87(7): 1696-1709.