Microclimatic Conditions Restrict the Radial Growth of Nothofagus antarctica Regeneration Based on the Type of Forest Environment in Tierra del Fuego

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

I read the manuscript thoroughly and found the manuscript suitable for publication in its present form. In my opinion, the abstract must be modified by including more results. Discussion may be improved by adding some new references. While in conclusion authors should be incorporating the significance of the present study. 

Author Response

(i) The abstract must be modified by including more results.

More outputs were added to the abstract.

(ii) The references must be improved. Discussion may be improved by adding some new references.

We included many references across the text as was suggested. Some new references were added in the discussion to improve the different paragraphs as was suggested by the other reviewers.

(iii) The conclusions must be improved. While in conclusion authors should be incorporating the significance of the present study.

It was improved according to the other reviewer comments. We add one sentence that improve the main outputs of our study.

Reviewer 2 Report

This paper is interesting, novelty, and especially useful for other researchers considering the tree-growth dynamics caused by differences in microclimate. The paper has been prepared quite well, sequentially, and with adequate methods. Several things need improvement, especially reference support must be added.

In the introduction: please add an explanation of why Nothofagus Antarctica is important to be the object of this research.

Please add maps showing the position of the study area in Argentina; the place of closed primary forests, open forests, and edge forests; and the layout of the plots and four transects in the field.

Each stage of the method presented should be accompanied by a citation from the reference/s, for example, in lines: 112-117, 136-143

English writing should go through a review by a native speaker.

Author Response

Reviewer 2:

(i) Moderate editing of English language.

The English style and language of the draft was checked by a native speaker colleague of the Institute 

(ii) The references must be improved.

We included many references across the text as was suggested. Some new references were added in the discussion to improve it.

(iii) The different draft sections must be improved. Each stage of the method presented should be accompanied by a citation from the reference/s, for example, in lines: 112-117, 136-143

Some methods are new, so, no references exists. However, we improve the citation for the methods that were employed before. Several references were added in the gaps.

(iv) The conclusions must be improved.

It was improved according to the other reviewer comments.

(v) In the introduction: please add an explanation of why Nothofagus antarctica is important to be the object of this research.

In the introduction, a sentence was described the main uses and the potential impacts of this kind of management. The importance of this kind of management in these forests was presented in the discussion, and specifically in the last paragraphs (management implications). We believe that this is the most adequate order. For this, we not amplify the explanation in the introduction. Besides, according to your comment, we include a sentence that highlight the importance of the species for the region.

(vi) Please add maps showing the position of the study area in Argentina; the place of closed primary forests, open forests, and edge forests; and the layout of the plots and four transects in the field.

The draft already had many figures and tables. One map showing the location of the Ranch and the selected stands not offering useful information for the readers. However, if you consider that it can bring crucial information, we can quickly added.

Reviewer 3 Report

This is a unique paper that studies the relationship between weather conditions and forest growth.

Please explain each of the following points.

About Figure 2.

1. After about 51 days, the difference in diameter growth becomes apparent. What do you think is the reason for this?

2. In the period from about 51 days to about 121 days, there are two types of diameter growth, one with a marked increase and the other with parallel growth. What could be the cause of this difference in diameter growth?

3. After about 121 days, each diameter growth leveled off and paralleled. Why does diameter growth level off after about 121 days, and what are the possible reasons?

Author Response

Reviewer 3:

The discussion must be improved about Figure 2.

(i) After about 51 days, the difference in diameter growth becomes apparent. What do you think is the reason for this?

As was explained in the discussion and presented in Appendix 2, this is mainly due to the temperature, both in soil and air. Also, the decrease in growth is associated mainly to the temperature, however, if the rainfall (soil moisture) decrease during late summer, it was also related to this variable. We discuss this when we compared the different seasons (years). We add a sentence in the discussion section.

(ii) In the period from about 51 days to about 121 days, there are two types of diameter growth, one with a marked increase and the other with parallel growth. What could be the cause of this difference in diameter growth?

It is an interesting question that cannot be answered with our research. The open forest trend it was the expected pattern, which was previously described. However, the open-lands presented a different one, straighter, and which ended abruptly. We will add a sentence in results, discussion and conclusions, as open one interesting questions to be solved in future research.

(iii) After about 121 days, each diameter growth leveled off and paralleled. Why does diameter growth level off after about 121 days, and what are the possible reasons?

As was discussed in the draft and stated before, the main reason for this is the hard climate at these high latitudes. Here, the growing season was short and mainly defined by climate. Thanks for these comments, they allowed to improve the discussion and identify a new output of the research.