Original data of diatom communities in two alpine lakes of eastern China

This study explored ecological responses of Erye and Sanye lakes to climate change and atmospheric deposition based on multi-proxy sedimentary records in the Taibai Mountain (eastern China). Diatom communities of the two study lakes shifted from large-sized benthic taxa to small fragilariod species after the mid-20th century, synchronous with an increase in diatom production and a decrease in mean length of diatom valves. Changes in diatom communities were significantly correlated with nitrogen deposition in both lakes and climate warming in the upstream lake.