Datasets that support the major results of the study that quantifies the long-term consequences of climate change-induced drying for peatland photosynthesis in the level of individual species and vegetation community. Climate change and the related increases in evapotranspiration threaten to make northern peatlands drier. The carbon sink function in peatlands is based on the delicate balance between the photosynthesis and decomposition. However, little is known about how existing and invading plant species will photosynthesize under drier conditions. We measured the species-level photosynthesis of vascular plants and mosses characteristic for the three peatland types (rich fen, poor fen, bog) within a 16-year water level drawdown (WLD) experiment from Lakkasuo peatland (61° 47’ N; 24° 18’ E), Finland. Species level photosynthesis was upscaled to site level using non-linear mixed effect models and species-vice leaf area data, specific leaf area data and moss cover and density data.

2022