Trace metals play crucial roles in the carbon and nitrogen metabolism of cyanobacteria. Physiological responses to metal limitation and toxicity in culture have shown that iron is important for photosynthesis and energy distribution in the cell while both iron and molybdenum are biochemically involved in nitrate reduction and nitrogen fixation. Nitrogen fixation is also relatively sensitive to copper toxicity. Consequently, factors that affect the supply rate, chemical speciation, or the recycling of trace metals can alter patterns of primary productivity and nitrogen metabolism. Overall, three trace metal dependent processes may contribute towards dominance: efficient use of limiting light, nitrogen fixation, and production of extracellular iron binding compounds.