Which term refers to organisms that cannot tolerate significant changes in salinity?

• A. Stenohaline
• B. Stenothermal
• C. Sessile
• D. Wave Shock

Answer: (A)

Organisms that cannot tolerate significant changes in salinity have a very narrow salinity tolerance, described as stenohaline. They struggle or fail to survive if the salt concentration of their environment shifts much from what they’re adapted to, so they’re typically restricted to stable salinity environments. In contrast, organisms that can handle a wide range of salinities are called euryhaline.

The other terms don’t fit this concept: stenothermal would refer to a limited temperature range, not salinity; sessile describes organisms that are fixed in place rather than mobile; and Wave Shock isn’t a standard term used to describe salinity tolerance.