2) An ecosystem requires a continuous flow of matter and energy, so it continue to exist. The image to the right
represents a tropical rainforest ecosystem. Located in
tropical regions, rainforests possess a greater diversity of
plant and animal life than any other type of ecosystem. As
their name implies, precipitation is significant, leading to
dense, verdant vegetation. Trees grow very tall as they
compete for sunlight, and animals live in their canopy.
a) What are biotic and abiotic factors that shape this ecosystem?
b) What is the niche of the jaguar illustrated above? Explain what a niche is.
c) Does any other species in the picture have the same niche as the jaguar? Explain. d) Ecosystems are constantly changing in response to natural and human disturbances. Would ecological succession occur in this ecosystem if all the existing animals died out? If so, which kind? e) Unlike the one-way flow of energy, matter is recycled within and between ecosystems. Different nutrients have different ways to cycle through an ecosystem. Choose one of the 4 main nutrients and explain how it cycles through the biosphere.

answer: decrease

a limiting factor is the one which decrease the abundance, distribution and causes extinction of the population of species in a ecosystem. here, predators including hawks, owls and snakes are the limiting factor for the population of mexican free tailed bat.   although bats are nocturnal animals as they forge for food at night these predators also may remain active during night which can decrease the population of the mexican free-tailed bats. also, these bats eat only one type of insects that are moths. the food can also be a limiting factor as all 400 members are dependent upon same type of food needs that are moths. the decrease in the moth population can cause decrease in population size of the mexican free-tailed bats.

therefore, the scenarios will most likely to decrease the population size of the mexican free-tailed bats.  

the rocks are classified by the geological process they are formed by. the three main groups of rocks are igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary. minerals are not they are classified under the chemical classes they are in. these groups include silicates, sulfates and carbonates.

it is because according to the process , scientific inquiry is a process with many steps because each step occurs to the scientist and if you just skip a step there would be no steps to scientific inquiry.