The dataset corresponds to a comprehensive eco-physiological characterization of multiple species of bryophytes (31 mosses, 12 liverworts and four hornworts) collected across contrasting environments (1) páramo of Ovejas (Nariño, Colombia); (2) páramo of Cumbal (Nariño, Colombia); (3) near the Spanish Antarctic Research Station Juan Carlos I (JCI Station, Livingston Island, Maritime Antarctica); (4) near the Australian Antarctic Casey station (on Bailey Peninsula, East Antarctica); (5) Mount Keira (Wollongong, Australia); (6) moss greenhouse at the University of Balearic Island (UIB, Mallorca, Spain); (7) laurel forest of Anaga (Tenerife, Spain); and (8) alpine shrubs of Teide National Park (Tenerife, Spain). The dataset is directly linked to the study of Perera-Castro et al (2025, Annals of Botany, 10.1093/aob/mcaf242) examining relationships between UV-absorbing compounds, photosynthetic capacity, and desiccation tolerance. It consists of two complementary tabular files: a main dataset (“All Data 2025_UV absorbing compounds and photosynthetic characterization of bryophytes”, 1147 × 22) and a secondary experimental dataset (“Falcon test Data_desiccation tolerance test of bryophytes”, 278 × 9). The main table follows a partially long format, where each row represents a replicate of a given species under a specific type of measurement, as defined by the variable M. It includes both categorical variables (e.g., species identity, phylum, origin, habitat, and desiccation tolerance class) and continuous variables describing physiological and biochemical traits such as gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, electron transport rates, photosynthetic pigments, and UV-absorbing compounds obtained through methanolic and alkaline extractions. Missing values (NA) reflect the experimental design, as not all measurements were performed on all samples. The “Falcon test Data_desiccation tolerance test of bryophytes” table contains repeated measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence during rehydration after long-term desiccation (14 days), enabling calculation of a desiccation tolerance index (DT.index), which is integrated into the main dataset. Data were generated using standardized methods, including PAM-coupled systems for photosynthesis and fluorescence, spectrophotometric analyses, and controlled desiccation assays.

This work was supported by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MCIU, Spain), the ERDF (FEDER) [PGC2018-093824-B-C41] and the Oficina de Cooperación al Desarrollo y Solidaridad (OCDS/UIB) [OCDS-CUD2017/03 and OCDS-CUD2018/08]; and the Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte (MECD, Spain) [FPU-02054], the Australian Research Council (FL240100032 and SRIEAS Grant SR200100005 Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future) and Australian Antarctic Science grant AAS4516.