Which aspect of native plants is enhanced by their establishment in an environment?

Native plants are well-adapted to their local environment, which allows them to thrive and establish themselves effectively. One of the significant benefits of native plants is their ability to enhance habitat improvement for local wildlife. By providing food, shelter, and breeding grounds, native plants support the ecosystem and promote biodiversity. They attract various pollinators, birds, and other wildlife that rely on native vegetation for survival.

Having native plants in a given area can lead to healthier ecosystems, as they typically have deep root systems that improve soil health and reduce erosion. They also often require less maintenance compared to non-native species, which can help create stable environments that sustain local flora and fauna.

In contrast, the other choices highlight aspects that do not align with the characteristics or benefits of native plants. Excessive water usage and dependency on chemical fertilizers are more accurately associated with many non-native or invasive species, which may rely heavily on such inputs to thrive. Higher mortality rates are generally not a characteristic of well-established native plants within their own ecosystems but typically relate to stressed or poorly adapted species.