Distribution and Identification of Ulva aragoensis (Ulvaceae, Chlorophyta), a Constituent Species of Green Tides in the Southern Yellow Sea, Based on Molecular Data
, Shuang Zhao 1, Yuqing Sun 1, Tingjian Wu 1, Zhangyi Xia 1, Shuang Li 1, Jiaxing Cao 1 and Jianheng Zhang 1,*Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Distribution and molecular identification of Ulva aragoensis (Ulvaceae, Chlorophyta), a constituent species of green tides in the Southern Yellow Sea
Comments to authors:
General Comments:
The authors study the taxonomical revision and documentation of species diversity of Ulva taxa and determine its role in green tides. This work is fully integrated within the up to date and relevant understanding in taxonomy. I would suggest performing modifications in order to improve the clarity of the study.
Specific Comments:
-Please, have a think about the title and whether it will be attractive to a wide audience - emphasise the fundamental science aspects of the work.
-Make sure the abstract starts with the main important findings of the study in order to increase the readers' interest.
-Introduction could be increased and restructured to better establish the main objectives of the study. Please ensure the hypotheses are clearly given and testable and that they relate to the aims and the objectives of the work.
-Results and Discussion sections should be better explored, increased and restructured to point out the main data. Many of the figures and tables do not add very much to the text, they could be deleted.
-I miss the conclusions section supported by the data presented and independent to Discussion section.
-Please, make sure the references are up to date and that you have checked recent issues of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
In conclusion, I hope the comments and suggestions above may be of helping to the authors for improving a version of the manuscript.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 1 Comments
Point 1: The authors study the taxonomical revision and documentation of species diversity of Ulva taxa and determine its role in green tides. This work is fully integrated within the up to date and relevant understanding in taxonomy. I would suggest performing modifications in order to improve the clarity of the study.
Response 1: Thanks for your review comments. I have made appropriate modifications to the manuscript according to your comments.
Point 2: Please, have a think about the title and whether it will be attractive to a wide audience - emphasise the fundamental science aspects of the work.
Response 2: Thanks for your comments. We changed it.
Point 3: Make sure the abstract starts with the main important findings of the study in order to increase the readers' interest.
Response 3: We have made appropriate adjustments according to your comments. We have highlighted the important findings of this manuscript in the abstract.
Point 4: Introduction could be increased and restructured to better establish the main objectives of the study. Please ensure the hypotheses are clearly given and testable and that they relate to the aims and the objectives of the work.
Response 4: We have made corresponding supplements. We further advanced the hypotheses and adjusted the order to make the logic clear.
Point 5: Results and Discussion sections should be better explored, increased and restructured to point out the main data. Many of the figures and tables do not add very much to the text, they could be deleted.
Response 5: Thanks. I have made changes and deleted redundant table 4. We have supplemented Figure 2 and restructured Parts 2 and 3 of the discussion.
Point 6: I miss the conclusions section supported by the data presented and independent to Discussion section.
Response 6: Thanks. We added it.
Point 7: Please, make sure the references are up to date and that you have checked recent issues of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering.
Response 7: We checked the references and added the corresponding references.
Point 8: In conclusion, I hope the comments and suggestions above may be of helping to the authors for improving a version of the manuscript.
Response 8: We have benefited a lot from your comments.
Reviewer 2 Report
This paper provide a more adequate identification of the early stage green tide through using more appropriate molecular marker. Authors have investigated the temporal and spatial distribution of U. aragoensis in the micro-propagules and in the floating green macroalgae which allowed the re-evaluation of the proportion of U. aragoensis in green tides at the early stage. Authors have also discussed the variation of the U. aragoensis distribution on Neoporphyra cultivation rafts and in floating green tide macroalgae.
The paper is well written and the methods are well conducted.
Minor comments:
In section 3.1, please add a figure of the morphological characteristics of U.flexuosa to show the high similarity with U. aragoensis which makes the identification of the early stage green tide more challenging.
Please provide a separate conclusion section.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 2 Comments
Point 1: This paper provide a more adequate identification of the early stage green tide through using more appropriate molecular marker. Authors have investigated the temporal and spatial distribution of U. aragoensis in the micro-propagules and in the floating green macroalgae which allowed the re-evaluation of the proportion of U. aragoensis in green tides at the early stage. Authors have also discussed the variation of the U. aragoensis distribution on Neoporphyra cultivation rafts and in floating green tide macroalgae.
The paper is well written and the methods are well conducted.
Response 1: Thanks for your review comments, we have further improved the quality of this manuscript.
Point 2: In section 3.1, please add a figure of the morphological characteristics of U. flexuosa to show the high similarity with U. aragoensis which makes the identification of the early stage green tide more challenging.
Response 2: We added it.
Point 3: Please provide a separate conclusion section.
Response 3: Thanks for your attention. We added it.
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
DISTRIBUTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF ULVA ARAGOENSIS (ULVACEAE, CHLOROPHYTA), A CONSTITUENT SPECIES OF GREEN TIDES IN THE SOUTHERN YELLOW SEA, BASED ON MOLECULAR DATA
General Comments to authors:
The authors study the taxonomical revision and documentation of species diversity of Ulva taxa and determine its role in green tides. They have made the major revisions I requested to the previous version of the manuscript, and this has greatly improved with respect to the original submission. Consequently, I suggest accepting the manuscript in its present form.
