trace metal cycling

Trace metal cycling refers to how tiny amounts of metals like iron, zinc, and copper move through the environment—soil, water, and organisms. These metals are essential for many biological processes, but they also change form and location due to natural factors like weathering, biological activity, and chemical reactions. For example, microbes can absorb, transform, or release these metals, influencing their availability. Understanding this cycling helps us grasp how metals support ecosystems and how human activities may disrupt their natural balance, impacting environmental health and organism survival.