Kinshasa Province (Democratic Republic of Congo): Typology of Peri-Urban Ecosystems Providing Edible Insects

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Article is well written, but with some recommendations on texts and figures to improve content. First time the scientific names is mention must be with complete genus and species including author.  

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 1 Comments

Point 1. L24: Write genus for both: G. jamesonii and C. forda. Review species name for Gonimbrasia jamesonii, must be Gonimbrasia jamesoni.

Response 1: We have written the genera for both: G. jamesoni and C. forda ; and we have corrected: Gonimbrasia jamesonii to Gonimbrasia jamesoni.

Point 2. L29-30: Delete: are the most widely consumed, because already men/on in line 23.

Response 2: We deleted“, which are the most widely consumed”.

Point 3. L56: What do you mean with species temperament?

Response 3: We mean the physiological constitution of species and their character traits resulting from this constitution.

Point 4. L95: It is wriJen: (Figure 1), the Kinshasa; must be wriJen: (Figure 1). TheKinshasa…

Response 4: We have written « Figure 1 » at the end of the sentence.

Point 5. L115: Delete: Methodology. And rewrite sec/on as 2.2 Site Sampling…

Response 5: We have deleted “Methodology” and wrote « 2.2. Site Sampling and Data Collection”

Point 6. L117-118: Delete: This sec/on describes the sampling methodologies for the field data collected in sequences

Response 6: We have deleted it

Point 7. L141 : Write the meaning of “dbh” (DBH: Diameter at Breast Height)

Response 7: We have written the meaning of “dbh” (DBH: Diameter at Breast Height)

Point 8. L164 : Include a reference for R software.

Response 8: We have included reference [24] on data analysis with R

Point 9. L224-226 : Statistical package used?

Response 9: We used the Excel spreadsheet

Point 10. L235 : Review species name for Gonimbrasia jamesoni.

Response 10: We have revised the species name of G. jamesoni

Point 11. L235-237: Add author for each insect species but depends on the journal rules.

Response 11: We have added an author for each species listed.

Point 12. L239-240: Figure 3. Write all scientific names in italics, some are in bolds types.

Response 12: All scientific names are written in Italics and no longer in Bold.

Point 13. L248-251: Delete: Provenances and Plant formations provider edible insects in Kinshasa, from the top of the figure 4. Add “a” and “b” to each graph. Move outside the figure 4a and 4b the following texts: Grand Bandundu 37% and Acacia plantation 55%, respectively.

Response 13: We have deleted "Provenances" and "Plant formations provider edible insects" from figure 4, replacing them with "a" and "b" respectively.

Point 14. L264 & 270: Remove indentatons from each line.

Response 14: We have harmonized the bullet points into a single shape.

Point 15. L278: PCA stand for principal component analysis, and not for ACP.

Response 15: We have replaced ACP by PCA.

Point 16. L296: Write respectively in normal type.

Response 16: We have written “respectively” in normal type “respectively”.

Point 17. L298: Table 1. Write complete genus name for each A. auriculiformis, A. mangium, M. laurentii, M. eetveldeana, and M. drastica.

Response 17: We have written complete genus name for each species.

Point 18. L306-308: In F.P. Mil graph mark correctly to which part of the pie each family belongs. In F.N.Mil graph move out Asparagaceae from the pie.

Response 18: In F.P. Mil graph We have marked correctly to which part of the pie each family belongs. In F.N.Mil graph We moved out Asparagaceae from the pie.

Point 19. L336: Add “a “and “b” on each graph of the figure 7.

Response 19: We haave added “a “and “b” on each graph of the figure 7.

Point 20. L343: It is wriJen: the density of individuals, must be wriJen: this density…

Response 20: We have replaced “the density of individuals” by “this density of individuals”;

Point 21. L346-348: Figure 8. Legend for F.P.Mil is missing.

Response 21: We have added the legend for F.P.Mil.

Point 22. L367: Delete: Figure 10 shows that.

Response 22: We have deleted“Figure 10 shows that” by announcing the figure at the end of the sentence.

Point 23. L369: After: this principle, add: (Figure 10).

Response 23: We added « (Figure 10) » after « this principle ».

Point 24. L389-391: There are no differences between the three graphs.

Response 24: We compared the different tree categories (small, medium and large) in pairs. We have clarified a certain number of differences.

Point 25. L397: Replace: higher, with: significative.

Response 25: We replaced “higher” with « significative ».

Point 26. L399: Replace: and higher, with: but no significative.

Response 26: We replaced “higher” with « but no significative ».

Point 27. L402: Replace: higher, with: significative. Delete: positive but low…Response 27: We replaced “higher” with “significative” and we have deleted “ positive but low ».

Point 28. L404: Replace: higher, with: significative.

Response 28: We replaced “higher” with “ significative ».

Point 29. L421-422: Write family and order insect names with normal types.

Response 29: We have written family and order insect names with normal types.

Point 30. L430: due to different climatic conditions and plant species diversity? After According to, add: Nsevolo.

Response 30: Yes, it is due to different climatic conditions and plant species diversity. After According to,We have added: Nsevolo.

Point 31. L433: After: those of, add: Nsevolo…

Response 31: After: those of, We have added: Nsevolo…

Point 32. L435: After: the provinces, delete round brackets.

Response 32: We deleted round brackets after the provinces.

Point 33. L436: It is written: Tshopo province) and, must be written: and Tshopo and….

Response 33: Element already deleted as per previous recommendation.

Point 34. L443: Move: in D.R. Congo, after: Brazzaville….

Response 34: We added in Congo after: Brazzaville because it doen’t belong to the D.R. Congo.

Point 35. L448: After: made by, add: Dourma et al.

Response 35: We added “Dourma et al” (reference [31]).

Point 36. L450: Are you meaning anthropisation with anthropogenic pressure?Response 35: Yes, we meaning anthropisation with anthropogenic pressure.

Point 37. L455: Replace: all, with: both…

Response37:  We replaced: all, with: both….

Point 38. L456-457: For both references 13 and 42 give the author names.

Response 38: We gave the author names for both references 13 and 42.

Point 39. L477: For reference 45 write the author’s name. Delete: which according to these authors. Add: suggesting that, before: this diversity…Response 39: We wrote the author’s name for reference « 45 » and we have added « suggesting that » before « this diversity ».

Point 40. L477: For both references 43 and 44 give the author names.

Response 40: We have written the author names for both references 43 and 44.

Point 41. L487: Isangi and Kisangani are in the DRC, then put together.

Response 41: Sentence harminized.

Point 42. L493-494: Delete: According to. Move [40, 43, 45] references at the end of his sentences.

Response 42: We deleted “According to” and move “[40, 43, 45] » at the end of the sentence.

Point 43. L494-495: The following sentence is confusing: It generally increases from dominated strata to dominant strate.

Response 43: We replaced ”dominated” with “lower” and « dominant » with « superior ».

Point 44. L 515, 517, 519, 520, 522: For references 13, 48, 7, 49, 50 write the author’s names.

Response 44: We have written the author’s names.

Point 45. L524: Describe: ANSC.

Response 45: We corrected ANSC to NSCA (Non-symmetric Correspondence Analysis).

Point 46. L586-587: Incomplete reference.

Response 46: We have completed this refence

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear Authors,

The article is interesting and well written, however, the objective of the study should be better clarified because some clear connections between the various points seems to lack. I suggest to revise the manuscript accordingly to allow for its publication.

Specifically, the introduction ends with this paragraph:

“The general objective of this study is to contribute to the sustainable management of urban biodiversity in Kinshasa in the context of strong urbanization. Specifically, the aim is to: (i) identify the two (02) species of insects most commonly consumed in Kinshasa; (ii) assess the diversity and structure of plant formations providing the insects most commonly consumed in Kinshasa; (iii) establish correlations between the dendrometric parameters studied.

Which is the correlation between the insects found to be most commonly consumed and the diversity and structure of the studied plant formation? Based on the obtained results, it seems that the above insect species are mostly produced in the acacia plantations that show the lowest biodiversity and the lowest average above-ground biomass. Possibly the plant species have more impact on the availability of these insects or these insects are good colonizing species of anthropized environments. Which are the desired measures to enhance the production of these insects in peri-urban areas?

Discussion and conclusion could be improved by responding to these questions.

There are other few points that needs amendments:

_Line 246: “The plant formations that provide edible insects are…” are the Authors referring to G. jamesonii and C. forda or to the edible insects in general? Figure 4 seems to indicate these two species but it should be clarified also in the text.

Figure 5a-5b: usually this denomination refers to a single figure divided in two fields. I suggest to name the figures 5 and 6.

Figure 5a: there is a problem with the overlapping of the denomination of the plantations

kind regards

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 2 Comments

Point 1. The article is interesting and well written; however, the objective of the study should be better clarified because some clear connections between the various points seems to lack. I suggest to revise the manuscript accordingly to allow for its publication.

Specifically, the introduction ends with this paragraph:

“The general objective of this study is to contribute to the sustainable management of urban biodiversity in Kinshasa in the context of strong urbanization. Specifically, the aim is to: (i) identify the two (02) species of insects most commonly consumed in Kinshasa; (ii) assess the diversity and structure of plant formations providing the insects most commonly consumed in Kinshasa; (iii) establish correlations between the dendrometric parameters studied.

Which is the correlation between the insects found to be most commonly consumed and the diversity and structure of the studied plant formation? Based on the obtained results, it seems that the above insect species are mostly produced in the acacia plantations that show the lowest biodiversity and the lowest average above-ground biomass. Possibly the plant species have more impact on the availability of these insects or these insects are good colonizing species of anthropized environments. Which are the desired measures to enhance the production of these insects in peri-urban areas?

Discussion and conclusion could be improved by responding to these questions.

Response 1: We have significantly improved the content of our manuscript:

The next-to-last sentence of our conclusion states "The high frequency/dominance of A. auriculiformis and M. laurentii in the peri-urban ecosystems of Kinshasa would therefore be optimal conditions (under natural conditions) for good production of these 2 caterpillars species, which are the most widely consumed"; in other words, the production and abundance of the most widely consumed insects would be due to the high abundance/dominance and frequency of M. laurentii and A. auriculiformis for C. forda and G. jamesonii respectively.

We have also added the sentence "The abundance/dominance and frequency of A. auriculiformis and M. laurentii would be a prerequisite for the production of G. jamesonii and C. forda respectively in the plant formations under study. This condition would therefore require the establishment of plantations dominated by A. auriculiformis and M. laurentii in order to maximize the production of these caterpillar species in the area".

 

Point 2. There are other few points that needs amendments:Ligne 246:  “The plant formations that provide edible insects are…” are the Authors referring to G. jamesonii and C. forda or to the edible insects in general? 

Response 2: In this study, the authors refer only to G. jamesonii and C. forda, and not to edible insects in general.

 

Point 3. Figure 4 seems to indicate these two species but it should be clarified also in the text.

Response 3: Sentence added to text: "These plant formations are dominated by individuals of A. auriculiformis and M. laurentii respectively, according to their denominations.

 Point 4. Figure 5a-5b: usually this denomination refers to a single figure divided in two fields. I suggest to name the figures 5 and 6.

Response 4: We have named them in Figure 5 and 6 as proposed.

 

Point 5. Figure 5a: there is a problem with the overlapping of the denomination of the plantations

Response 5: Yes; there is this problem of overlapping plantation names due to the similarity/floristic similarity between the forest plots of the Millettia formations (Millettia plantation and Millettia natural forest).