Final answer:
If 95% of an ecosystem is covered by Melaleuca over a 25-year period, there would likely be a decline in wildlife populations due to habitat loss, competition for resources, and potential new predators or diseases introduced by the invasive species.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question focuses on the impact of Melaleuca coverage on wildlife in an ecosystem. When Melaleuca, or any invasive species, covers a significant part of an ecosystem, biodiversity tends to decline. This is due to various negative effects such as habitat loss for native species, a shift in the available resources, and alteration in the ecological balance of the area.
In particular, native wildlife populations might also decline as their preferred habitats are taken over by the invasive Melaleuca. Changes in the ecosystem, such as reduced availability of native plants that certain wildlife species rely on for food and shelter, can lead to a decline in biodiversity. Additionally, invasive species can introduce new predators or diseases that native species are not adapted to cope with, further exacerbating the decline in wildlife populations.
Therefore, the most likely impact of 95% coverage of an ecosystem by Melaleuca over a 25-year period would be a decline in wildlife populations (option b), as the ecosystem's original balance is disrupted and native species struggle to compete with the invasive species.