The function of tight junctions in epithelial tissue is to increase the surface area;

a. increase the strength and integrity of the tissue layer
b. increase the solute uptake in the tissue
c. increase the selectivity of transport across the tissue layer
d. increase the flow of water across the tissue layer.

Explanation:

Cell junctions are specialized sites where two cells join, cell junctions are of three types:

Anchoring junctions, tight junctions, communicating junctions

Anchoring junctions hold cells together and communicating junctions connect two cells directly, communicating junctions include: gap junctions and plasmodesmata

Tight junctions seal paracellular boundaries of epithelial cells and prevent leakage of ions and diffusion of proteins in membrane

Proteins which form tight junctions are called claudin, occludin

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.