Unraveling the Spatial Dynamics and Global Climate Change Response of Prominent Tropical Tree Species in Asia: Symplocos cochinchinensis and Beyond
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe paper is a report on a good exercise of distribution modelling of plant species.
I see three major shortcomings of the manuscript:
(1) there is a lack of precision in the wording. For instance, in the abstract (line 20), it is important to avoid terms like "favorable". You can clarify what this signifies in terms of precipitation, on and temperature. Other examples on line 34 (wihch type of shift can be expected?), the "environmental variables" are more precisely climate variables, lines 265 and following lack precision. What does the SSP585 precisely expect for the investigated region?
(2) the choice of the species is not well justified. Is this a species that is sensitive enough to expected climate changes? The interference with other species or environmental variables not taken into account (toxic gases, soil conditions) might be much more important
(3) the limits of the approach of distribution modelling is not enough critically discussed. Programs like Maxent are typically based on occurrence data, but for tree species, the size typically matters: a tree can grow high in favorable conditions and remain small on unfavorable conditions. The difference between favorable and unfavorable is much less expressed in presence/absence data for tree species. Give more emphasis, already in the introduction, on your statement in line 332 (partial view of species occurrences)
Minor remarks:
- avoid using acronyms, they make the document hard to read
- what do you mean with asexual reproduction? Is this really important in a context of distribution modelling?
- line 70: "invasion of mature plants": reword
- line 80 and 62: this is contradictory: a species is a pioneer or a climax species, or something in between.
- line 182: delete
- line 187: I don't see a figure or table showing the importance of Bio13
- make figures self-explaining
Author Response
-
The paper is a report on a good exercise of distribution modelling of plant species.
I see three major shortcomings of the manuscript:
there is a lack of precision in the wording. For instance, in the abstract (line 20), it is important to avoid terms like "favorable". You can clarify what this signifies in terms of precipitation, on and temperature. Other examples on line 34 (wihch type of shift can be expected?), the "environmental variables" are more precisely climate variables, lines 265 and following lack precision. What does the SSP585 precisely expect for the investigated region?
Response1: We sincerely appreciate the reviewer's insightful comments and constructive suggestions, which have greatly helped us improve the quality of our manuscript. We have carefully addressed each point raised and made corresponding revisions to ensure the clarity, accuracy, and robustness of our study. Your feedback has been invaluable in refining our work, and we are grateful for the time and effort you dedicated to reviewing our paper. Thank you for your thoughtful and detailed review.
L20"favorable" changed to “favorable microclimates with 'Precipitation of Wettest Month' (Bio 13) and 'Mean Temperature of Wettest Quarter' (Bio 8)”
L34 added “including temperature changes, precipitation variability, extreme weather events,”
L265 added a paragraph
The SSP585 scenario, a high-emission pathway, projects significant climatic changes for SE Asia region, including a temperature increase of 2.5–4.5°C by 2070, more erratic precipitation patterns (intensified wet seasons and prolonged dry periods), increased frequency of extreme weather events, and sea level rise. These changes are expected to shift the ecological niche of S. cochinchinensis, characterized by a significant reduction in less suitable habitats alongside a subtle expansion in more suitable regions. Furthermore, it emphasizes the critical role of ecological resilience and the potential for new refugia, which may be essential for the species' long-term survival.
- the choice of the species is not well justified. Is this a species that is sensitive enough to expected climate changes? The interference with other species or environmental variables not taken into account (toxic gases, soil conditions) might be much more important
Response 2: we added two paragraph for discussion,
4.4 Conservation and Restoration Implications
The findings of this study highlight the urgent need for conservation and restoration efforts to protect S. cochinchinensis and its habitats. As a species with significant ecological and economic value, S. cochinchinensis plays a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem stability, particularly in tropical and subtropical forests. Notably, it is currently the most extensively sampled plant species in Southeast Asia, with an average of over 5,000 georeferenced specimens, making it one of the best-documented species in the region. Its widespread occurrence across most areas, as evidenced by its extensive specimen records, underscores its ecological importance and its interactions with other species in forest ecosystems. The projected shifts in its distribution under future climate scenarios emphasize the vulnerability of its current habitats and the necessity of proactive measures. Key steps include prioritizing the protection of highly suitable habitats, establishing ecological corridors to facilitate migration, implementing habitat restoration programs, and preserving genetic diversity through seed banks and ex situ conservation. Community engagement and adaptive management are also essential to ensure the long-term survival of S. cochinchinensis.
This study fills a critical gap in previous research by providing a comprehensive analysis of S. cochinchinensis's potential distribution under climate change and proposing actionable conservation strategies. The methodologies and findings are not limited to S. cochinchinensis but can be applied to other widespread tropical species facing similar climatic pressures. By integrating species distribution modeling (SDM) with climate scenarios, this research offers a robust framework for predicting habitat suitability and guiding conservation efforts for tropical biodiversity. This approach contributes to the broader goal of safeguarding ecosystem resilience in the face of global environmental change. Given its ecological significance and extensive distribution, the conservation of S. cochinchinensis is not only vital for its own survival but also for maintaining the stability and biodiversity of the ecosystems it inhabits.
- the limits of the approach of distribution modelling is not enough critically discussed. Programs like Maxent are typically based on occurrence data, but for tree species, the size typically matters: a tree can grow high in favorable conditions and remain small on unfavorable conditions. The difference between favorable and unfavorable is much less expressed in presence/absence data for tree species. Give more emphasis, already in the introduction, on your statement in line 332 (partial view of species occurrences)
Response 3: We acknowledge the reviewer's concern regarding the limitations of distribution modeling, particularly for tree species like Symplocos cochinchinensis. It is important to note that the occurrence data used in this study are primarily based on herbarium specimens, which are typically collected from mature trees with flowers or fruits. This means that the recorded presence points largely represent established, mature individuals rather than seedlings or juvenile trees. While this approach ensures that the data reflect viable populations capable of reproduction.
We added favorable microclimates with 'Precipitation of Wettest Month' (Bio 13) and 'Mean Temperature of Wettest Quarter' (Bio 8). In abstract. So precipitation is very important to this species, which has been collected and have more than 5000 specimens.
We added L197-205, Bio 13 indicating that it is the most significant factor in the model's predictions. This underscores the species' strong dependence on humid environments, particularly in regions with high precipitation during the wettest month, which likely provides essential moisture for its growth and reproduction. Bio 18 highlighting the importance of adequate water supply during the warmest season for the species' adaptation. In terms of Permutation Importance, Bio 13 scores 18.3%, while Bio 18 scores 4.9%. Despite the lower permutation importance of Bio 18, its high contribution rate suggests its significance in the model. The high permutation importance of Bio 13 further confirms the critical role of precipitation during the wettest month in shaping the distribution of S. cochinchinensis.
Minor remarks:
- avoid using acronyms, they make the document hard to read
Response 4: Changed to full form.
- what do you mean with asexual reproduction? Is this really important in a context of distribution modelling?
Response 5: Discuss its reproductive strategies, as it is one of the most common species in Southeast Asia and can also reproduce asexually. This enables it to easily colonize secondary forests and act as a pioneer species in human-disturbed environments. Therefore, the combination of asexual and sexual reproduction is a crucial survival strategy for this species. This provides a basis for our discussion on how even common species can be affected by climate change.
- line 70: "invasion of mature plants": reword
Response 6: Revised to : New habitats are initially colonized through the establishment of adult plants,
- line 80 and 62: this is contradictory: a species is a pioneer or a climax species, or something in between.
Response 7: Changed to pioneer species.
- line 182: delete
Response 8: deleted
- line 187: I don't see a figure or table showing the importance of Bio13
Response 9: In table 3, we showed, Percent contribution /% is 57.8% Permutation importance /% of Bio 13 is 18.3%
- make figures self-explaining
Response 10: We revised legends and captions of figures.
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe article submitted for consideration constitutes a generalization of the data set for assessing the distribution and habitat conditions of Symplocos cochinchinensis.
The article incorporates methodologies for the processing and structuring of data previously obtained by other researchers. While the visualization results are described, there is a paucity of interpretation and discussion of the results. Consequently, the article is more suitable for the category of review studies. In the course of conducting their review, the authors drew upon a limited number of sources of literature. The authors are encouraged to supplement the results, discussions and provide recommendations from other authors for the preservation and dissemination of the studied Symplocos cochinchinensis.
The following editions have been suggested to enhance the article:
155 - it is necessary to provide a decoding of the dots
Furthermore, in order to enhance the comprehension of the article, it is imperative to decipher the abbreviations present in the text.
It is imperative to decipher the dots at line 155, and to interpret the abbreviations at line 159. Furthermore, the information at lines 182-184 should be removed.
Author Response
The article submitted for consideration constitutes a generalization of the data set for assessing the distribution and habitat conditions of Symplocos cochinchinensis.
The article incorporates methodologies for the processing and structuring of data previously obtained by other researchers. While the visualization results are described, there is a paucity of interpretation and discussion of the results. Consequently, the article is more suitable for the category of review studies. In the course of conducting their review, the authors drew upon a limited number of sources of literature. The authors are encouraged to supplement the results, discussions and provide recommendations from other authors for the preservation and dissemination of the studied Symplocos cochinchinensis.
The following editions have been suggested to enhance the article:
155 - it is necessary to provide a decoding of the dots
Response 1: We sincerely appreciate the reviewer's insightful comments and constructive suggestions, which have greatly helped us improve the quality of our manuscript. We have carefully addressed each point raised and made corresponding revisions to ensure the clarity, accuracy, and robustness of our study. Your feedback has been invaluable in refining our work, and we are grateful for the time and effort you dedicated to reviewing our paper. Thank you for your thoughtful and detailed review.
(The figure illustrates the performance changes during the variable selection process, with the yellow line representing the model's performance on the training set and the blue line indicating the performance on the validation set.)
Furthermore, in order to enhance the comprehension of the article, it is imperative to decipher the abbreviations present in the text.
It is imperative to decipher the dots at line 155, and to interpret the abbreviations at line 159. Furthermore, the information at lines 182-184 should be removed.
Response 2: Thanks, we added (L: Linear/Q: Quadratic/H: Hinge/P: Product/T: Threshold)
(rm: regularization multiplier/AIC: Akaike Information Criterion)
the information at lines 182-184 has been moved.
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis research topic is quite interesting and fits the scope of FORESTS. However, the manuscript still needs to be improved, and some parts need to be rewritten. Corrections that need to be considered in revision:
Line 2: The title is considered to be changed to be more focused. Suggestion: Prediction of Distribution and Response to Climate Change in Symplocos cochinchinensis Using MaxEnt Model.
L.30: Please add the latest literature.
L.105, 283-284: Please add citation.
L.107-121, 145,328: Scientific writing usually avoids personal pronouns. If found, it is usually “We”, not “I”.
L.142-151, 166-168: Add citations relevant to this method.
L.159: Change the caption and figure legend to be more informative.
L.182-184: Is this sentence necessary?
L.186: Is it essential to mention the year of the “current period”?
L.227: Replace “Current” in the table with the year the study was conducted
L.230, 277, 280: The title of the map legend should be clear, for example, “Suitability categories.”; Use the International System of Unit for map scale (km).
L.543: Rewrite the conclusion section. Focus on answering the research objectives and key findings of the study. No further explanations with citations are needed.
L.542-548: There should be an addition to the discussion section that discusses the importance of conservation and restoration of Symplocos cochinchinensis habitat and offers concrete, visible steps to be implemented. In addition, the authors should be able to explain how the results of this study can fill the gap in previous research and can be applied to other tropical species.
Author Response
This research topic is quite interesting and fits the scope of FORESTS. However, the manuscript still needs to be improved, and some parts need to be rewritten. Corrections that need to be considered in revision:
Line 2: The title is considered to be changed to be more focused. Suggestion: Prediction of Distribution and Response to Climate Change in Symplocos cochinchinensis Using MaxEnt Model.
Response 1: We sincerely appreciate the reviewer's insightful comments and constructive suggestions, which have greatly helped us improve the quality of our manuscript. We have carefully addressed each point raised and made corresponding revisions to ensure the clarity, accuracy, and robustness of our study. Your feedback has been invaluable in refining our work, and we are grateful for the time and effort you dedicated to reviewing our paper. Thank you for your thoughtful and detailed review.
Title has been changed to the suggested one.
L.30: Please add the latest literature.
- LI, K., LIU, X., ZHANG, K.J., ZHOU, X.L., YANG, L., & SHEN, S.2023. Complexity responses of Rhododendron species to climate change in China reveal their urgent need for protection. Forest Ecosystems, 10, 100124.
- WU, Y.M., SHEN, X.L., TONG, L., LEI, F.W., MU, X.Y., & ZHANG, Z.X. 2021. Impact of Past and Future Climate Change on the Potential Distribution of an Endangered Montane Shrub Lonicera oblata and Its Conservation Implications. Forests, 12(2), 125.
Response 2:
L.105, 283-284: Please add citation.
Reply: two references have been added.
- NOOTEBOOM, H.P. 1975. Revision of the Symplocaceae of the Old World, New Caledonia Excepted. Leiden: Universitaire Pers Leiden.
- ELITH, J., PHILLIPS, S. J., HASTIE, T., DUDÍK, M., CHEE, Y. E., & YATES, C. J. (2010). A statistical explanation of MaxEnt for ecologists. Diversity and Distributions, 17(1), 43-57.
L.107-121, 145,328: Scientific writing usually avoids personal pronouns. If found, it is usually “We”, not “I”.
Response 3: changed
L.142-151, 166-168: Add citations relevant to this method.
Response 4 wo references have been added.
MUSCARELLA, R., GALANTE, P. J., SOLEY-GUARDIA, M., BORIA, R. A., KASS, J. M., URIARTE, M., & ANDERSON, R. P. (2014). ENMeval: An R package for conducting spatially independent evaluations and estimating optimal model complexity for Maxent ecological niche models. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 5(11), 1198-1205.
VIGNALI, S., BARRON, O., BRAUNISCH, V., & ARLETTAZ, R. (2020). SDMtune: An R package to tune and evaluate species distribution models. Ecography, 43(6), 852-860.
L.159: Change the caption and figure legend to be more informative.
Response 5: changed
L.182-184: Is this sentence necessary?
Response 6: deleted
L.186: Is it essential to mention the year of the “current period”?
Response 7: deleted
L.227: Replace “Current” in the table with the year the study was conducted
Response 8: changed to 2025
L.230, 277, 280: The title of the map legend should be clear, for example, “Suitability categories.”; Use the International System of Unit for map scale (km).
Response 9: revised
L.543: Rewrite the conclusion section. Focus on answering the research objectives and key findings of the study. No further explanations with citations are needed.
Response 10: revised， see L.605-636
L.542-548: There should be an addition to the discussion section that discusses the importance of conservation and restoration of Symplocos cochinchinensis habitat and offers concrete, visible steps to be implemented. In addition, the authors should be able to explain how the results of this study can fill the gap in previous research and can be applied to other tropical species.
Response 11: revised， see L.552-603
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe authors have duly considered the comments and the submitted version of the article is now ready for publication.
It is imperative to pay close attention to the design of the article. For instance, it should be noted that Figure 10 extends beyond the boundaries of the page.
Author Response
Comments 1:
The authors have duly considered the comments and the submitted version of the article is now ready for publication.
It is imperative to pay close attention to the design of the article. For instance, it should be noted that Figure 10 extends beyond the boundaries of the page.
Response1: Thanks for ther reviewer, we have adjusted figure 10 to make the margin fall inside the page.
