Population Structures and Levels of Connectivity for Scyphozoan and Cubozoan Jellyfish

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Review of manuscript by Kingsford et al

This work is a review of the knowledge available on population structure of scyphozoan and cubozoans jellyfishes. Differences between individual species, and among the two classes are discussed, as well as drivers of these differences.

Overall I think that the goal of this review is sensible but the presentation lacks accuracy and clarity.

The main weaknesses are

- missing definition of connectivity. There is no one single definition, See 

Pineda, Hare and Sponaugle, 2007)

In particular authors should differentiate realized and potential connectivity.

- the structure of the ms : there is a mix of causes (behavioral, hydrodynamic, presence of polyps) and consequences (population structure). I suggest to start from the observed population structure (through genetics and morphological/elemental analyses) and progress toward the potential causes.

- The introduction and conclusions of the review : too detailed introduction, and I do not really see a summary of the main points addressed, nor new avenues for research in conclusion.

Detailed comments

Abstract

L18 “we predict”: I guess posing a hypothesis and testing it is the appropriate way.

Introduction

L41 boney?

L43 affects? Effects.

L70 define connectivity

L75 incipient

L79 insular? What do you mean?

L82 Most jellyfish have a polyp stage; this should already be mentioned here.

L138-147: This paragraph should come earlier (near L91).

2 Evidence

L170 “and has” ??

L266: would coastal/oceanic character a useful discriminant for population structure?

L325: This table should come first as it shows the actual observation of population structure.

L368: I suggest changing to ‘hydrodynamic connectivity” rather than the method used to estimate it, which is biophysical modeling

L402. I think the question of this paragraph is interesting. However the polyp effect on population structure should be first stated as a hypothesis, then validated by the review of literature.

Table and Figures

Table 1

Cubozoan: center as scyphozoan

Table 2

I would not mix observed (genetics) and potential connectivity (from biophysical modeling) in the same framework.

Author Response

Thanks for your comments, please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

In this manuscript a deep study about the population structures and levels of connectivity for scyphozoan and cubozoan jellyfish is presented. 

In my opinion this is a very interesting work in which a very extensive study of the population dynamics of scyphozoan and cubozoan jellyfish has been made, that will be very useful for other researchers.

The text is well written and easy to read, what I really appreciate as a reader.

Some errors have been detected and are shown in the text as comments and/or corrections.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Thanks for your comments, please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

ms ok.