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Substrate (biology)
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Biology/1M1ee3pB">biology</a>, a substrate is the surface on which an <a href="/facts/Organism/j8JkL09u">organism</a> (such as a <a href="/facts/Plant/X5BMDMvS">plant</a>, <a href="/facts/Fungus/BHo5DP59">fungus</a>, or <a href="/facts/Animal/4b8J33nd">animal</a>) lives. A substrate can include biotic or abiotic materials and animals. For example, encrusting algae that lives on a <a href="/facts/Rock_(geology)/FXCJkmop">rock</a> (its substrate) can be itself a substrate for an animal that lives on top of the algae. Inert substrates are used as growing support materials in the <a href="/facts/Hydroponics/g96g3ypl">hydroponic</a> cultivation of plants. In biology substrates are often activated by the nanoscopic process of <a href="/facts/Substrate_presentation/UETq4vhX">substrate presentation</a>. </p>