Data from: Invasive submerged plant has a stronger inhibitory effect on epiphytic algae than native plant

The invasion of submerged aquatic plants potentially results in a loss of
native biodiversity in these ecosystems. There has been little attention
paid to the impact of invasive submerged plants on epiphytic algal
communities. We conducted a 30-day outdoor mesocosm experiment on the
shore of subtropical Lake Liangzihu, China, to investigate the effects of
two submerged plant species, an invasive species (Elodea nuttallii) and a
native species (Hydrilla verticillata), on epiphytic algal communities. We
also explored the relationship between macrophyte secondary metabolites
and epiphytic algae by conducting a laboratory cultivation experiment. We
give the raw dataste, including the specie data of abundance, epiphytic
algal communities traits, and environmental parameters in the outdoor
mesocosm experiment and laboratory cultivation experiment, and also
including the data of plant traits.