Dataset for: Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) invasion alters greenhouse gas emissions in shallow lakes.

Climate change and invasive species are among the most important environmental problems of this century. Freshwaters are important regulators of the global carbon cycle and a key source of atmospheric greenhouse gases. However, freshwater environments may be particularly susceptible to species invasion and adverse effects, and the consequences of altered species assemblages on greenhouse gas emissions remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the impact of one of the world's most damaging invasive species, the common carp, on freshwater greenhouse gas emissions. We show that lakes with invasive carp had lower methane emissions despite increased eutrophication, contradicting the well-established assumption that methane emissions from lakes increase with nutrient levels and productivity. This is likely due to substantial depletion of the benthic environment. As invasive species spread continues, new species assemblages may therefore disrupt ecosystem functioning and diverse global cycles in unexpected ways.