The introduction of a nonnative species of plant can significantly impact an ecosystem, particularly in terms of competition and habitat alteration. When a nonnative plant takes root in an area, it often lacks the natural predators or controls that would typically limit its growth in its native environment. This allows it to proliferate, frequently outcompeting native species for essential resources such as sunlight, water, and nutrients.
As the nonnative plant grows and spreads, it can dominate the landscape, effectively taking over habitats that were once occupied by native plants. This displacement can lead to a decline in native plant populations, disrupting the established relationships within the ecosystem, including those that supported local wildlife and other organisms that rely on native flora for food and shelter.
By altering the structure and composition of the ecosystem, the nonnative species can hinder the growth and survival of native plants and, by extension, affect the animals and insects that depend on those native species. Thus, the correct answer emphasizes the potential for a nonnative plant to take over habitats, illustrating how it can reshape the ecosystem dynamics in North Carolina.