Final answer:
Australian flora are adapted to low phosphorus conditions, which are prevalent in Australia's nutrient-deficient soils. Adaptation is critical for native plants, especially in biodiversity hotspots like southwestern Australia, where competition with introduced nitrogen-fixing plants can disrupt the delicate balance of ecosystems.
Step-by-step explanation:
Australian flora are adapted to low phosphorus conditions. This adaptation can be seen in the biodiversity hotspot of southwestern Australia, where the native vegetation has evolved under nutrient-poor conditions. The region has lost a significant amount of its original vegetation due to agricultural development, and remaining plant species have had to compete with introduced nitrogen-fixing plants, which can alter the nutrient balance of the soil. Phosphorus is a major nutrient, and the use of it in artificial fertilizers has led to eutrophication in aquatic systems, which further complicates the conservation of native plants.
Adaptations to low phosphorus environments are critical for survival, as these nutrients are scarce in many Australian soils. Native plants of Australia have thus developed specific traits to thrive in these conditions. This makes them particularly vulnerable to changes in their ecosystem, such as those induced by introduced species that can modify water or nutrient regimes, potentially disadvantaging native phosphorus-sensitive flora.