Which term refers to organisms that can withstand only a narrow range of temperatures?

Prepare for the IB Marine Science SL Exam. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with detailed explanations. Master marine ecosystems, ocean currents, and biological resources for success!

Multiple Choice

Which term refers to organisms that can withstand only a narrow range of temperatures?

Explanation:
Organisms differ in how wide a temperature range they can tolerate. Those that survive only within a narrow window are described as stenothermal. Their enzymes and membranes are optimized for that specific range, so even small shifts in temperature can disrupt metabolism, protein stability, and membrane function, making survival difficult outside that window. This is why stenothermal is the best term for a narrow temperature tolerance. The other terms don’t describe temperature limits: sessile refers to being fixed in place, uniform distribution to how organisms are spread in an area, and wave shock isn’t a standard ecological term for temperature tolerance.

Organisms differ in how wide a temperature range they can tolerate. Those that survive only within a narrow window are described as stenothermal. Their enzymes and membranes are optimized for that specific range, so even small shifts in temperature can disrupt metabolism, protein stability, and membrane function, making survival difficult outside that window. This is why stenothermal is the best term for a narrow temperature tolerance. The other terms don’t describe temperature limits: sessile refers to being fixed in place, uniform distribution to how organisms are spread in an area, and wave shock isn’t a standard ecological term for temperature tolerance.

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