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.