1. having a narrow range of tolerance for environmental conditions
Usage: biology; ecology

Examples

• Many deep-sea fish are stenotopic organisms that cannot survive in shallow waters.
• The stenotopic species requires very specific temperature and pH conditions.
• Coral reefs contain numerous stenotopic animals adapted to stable tropical conditions.
• Climate change poses a greater threat to stenotopic species than to adaptable ones.
• The laboratory maintains stenotopic cultures under carefully controlled conditions.
• Stenotopic organisms are often the first to disappear when habitats are disturbed.