Benthic primary producers in coastal ecosystems provide important habitat for marine organisms through the provision of complex 3D habitat. Primary producers produce organic matter, while simultaneously producing reactive oxygen species, including hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), a driver of oxidative stress. Through their high biomass, productivity and effect on local hydrodynamics, benthic primary producers can potentially increase H₂O₂ concentrations surrounding the biogenic structures they form. The aim of this study was to identify the potential role of H₂O₂ produced by benthic primary producers as an external stressor in coastal ecosystems. This was achieved by measuring H₂O₂ concentrations within sea lettuce blooms (Ulva sp.), giant kelp forests (Macrocystis pyrifera), and seagrass meadows (Zostera muelleri); quantifying H₂O₂ production rates of these species; and testing heterotrophic bacterial response to relevant H₂O₂ concentrations. Ulva sp. produced five times more H₂O₂ than other species. At in situ concentrations, H₂O₂ inhibited bacterial production and carbon flow through the microbial loop by 75%. This study reveals H₂O₂ as an additional stressor in bloom-forming Ulva sp. with higher H₂O₂ production compared to the ecosystem engineers M. pyrifera and Z. muelleri. H₂O₂ production by benthic primary producers can affect carbon flow through the microbial loop, with the potential to propagate a stress signal up the food web.

沿海生态系统中的底栖初级生产者通过提供复杂的 3D 栖息地为海洋生物提供重要的栖息地。初级生产者生产有机物，同时产生活性氧，包括氧化应激的驱动因素过氧化氢 (H ₂ O ₂ )。通过其高生物量、生产力和对当地水动力的影响，底栖初级生产者可以潜在地增加其形成的生物结构周围的 H ₂ O ₂浓度。本研究的目的是确定底栖初级生产者产生的 H ₂ O ₂作为沿海生态系统外部压力源的潜在作用。这是通过测量海生菜花 ( Ulva sp.)、巨藻森林 ( Macrocystis Pyrifera ) 和海草草甸 ( Zostera muelleri ) 内的 H ₂ O ₂浓度来实现的；量化这些物种的 H ₂ O ₂生产率；并测试异养细菌对相关H ₂ O ₂浓度的反应。石莼属产生的 H ₂ O ₂比其他物种多五倍。在原位浓度下，H ₂ O ₂可抑制细菌产生和通过微生物循环的碳流达 75%。这项研究揭示了 H ₂ O ₂作为石莼花形成过程中的额外应激源。与生态系统工程师M.pyrifera和Z.muelleri相比，具有更高的 H ₂ O ₂产量。 底栖初级生产者产生的 H ₂ O ₂可以影响通过微生物循环的碳流，并有可能在食物网中传播压力信号。