Present and Future of Seaweed Cultivation and Its Applications in Colombia
Danilo Largo
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This paper recognizes the need to develop a seaweed industry for Colombia as it transitions towards a blue economy. I support the publication of this paper after a minor correction has been made on the following:
- Lines 14-15 – these are seaweed ‘genera’, not ‘species’.
- Include a global map in Fig. 1 for a general reference of where Colombian maritime territory is located.
- Line 66 – indicate the authors’ name in the sentence even as the reference number is cited.
- It is with general knowledge that Kappaphycus alvarezii cultivated in Latin America came from stocks introduced to Brazil from originally Philippine materials via Japan.
- Line 200 – remove the second “…and application…” in the sentence.
- As a way of emphasizing the need to adapt these systems in Colombia, the authors need to mention in section 4, the current level or status of implementing these different types of cultivation systems in Colombia as they are discussed.
- Line 218 – be clear what you mean by a “low population density”, of what?
- Some species listed in Table 2 could be introduced species. A note on each introduced species is important (e.g. Kappaphycus alvarezii), such as its negative impact including the risks of such introduction to local species diversity and positive socio-economic impact to coastal communities in Colombia.
- Line 412 – change “y” (Spanish) to “and” (English)
- Lines 432 and 434 – “seaweed” should read as “seaweeds” (plural)
- “Specie” in Table 4 first column heading should read as “Species”
Author Response
Dear reviewer, thank you very much for each of your comments, I consider that each of them contributed to improve the document. I will now respond to each of your comments.
This paper recognizes the need to develop a seaweed industry for Colombia as it transitions towards a blue economy. I support the publication of this paper after a minor correction has been made on the following:
- Lines 14-15 – these are seaweed ‘genera’, not ‘species’.
Answer: Change was made
- Include a global map in Fig. 1 for a general reference of where Colombian maritime territory is located.
Answer: It was considered more pertinent to include in the text a more general description of the location of Colombia, so as not to include another image.
- Line 66 – indicate the authors’ name in the sentence even as the reference number is cited.
Answer: Change was made
- It is with general knowledge that Kappaphycus alvarezii cultivated in Latin America came from stocks introduced to Brazil from originally Philippine materials via Japan.
Answer: In the text I mentioned as far as it was possible to quote according to the information (source) that could be traced and verified.
- Line 200 – remove the second “…and application…” in the sentence.
Answer: Change was made
- As a way of emphasizing the need to adapt these systems in Colombia, the authors need to mention in section 4, the current level or status of implementing these different types of cultivation systems in Colombia as they are discussed.
Answer: Section 5 discusses the status of cultures in Colombia and specifies the different type of cultures (according to those explained in section 4) that were grown in Colombia.
- Line 218 – be clear what you mean by a “low population density”, of what?
Answer: Phrase changed to: low number of specimens.
- Some species listed in Table 2 could be introduced species. A note on each introduced species is important (e.g. Kappaphycus alvarezii), such as its negative impact including the risks of such introduction to local species diversity and positive socio-economic impact to coastal communities in Colombia.
Answer: The species considered in this document are those reported by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia in its report: Guide to Introduced Marine and Coastal Species of Colombia. ISBN: 978-958-8491-52-3
- Line 412 – change “y” (Spanish) to “and” (English)
Answer: Change was made
- Lines 432 and 434 – “seaweed” should read as “seaweeds” (plural)
Answer: Change was made
- “Specie” in Table 4 first column heading should read as “Species”
Answer: Change was made
Reviewer 2 Report
The manuscript is a review focused on the research addressed on Colombian seaweed resources. Since not too much scientific and/or technological research has been carried out in Colombia (compared to other neighboring countries), the manuscript is welcome. I have no major comments, since it compiles the major part of the works (published and grey literature), only some minor comments/recommendations.
- lines 35-36. Algal taxonomic groups are not only based on color (i.e., pigments). Storage products and cell ultrastructural attributes (i.e., chloroplasts, cell walls, flagella, etc.) are also criteria in stablishing the Phyla.
- line 83. Provide the year for these figures.
- lines 250-256. Growth rates vary along the year (seasonal variation). It should be noted in this paragraph since no further information about the season is given for the average values provided.
-line 258. Pérez-Lloréns et al. (2004) provide seasonal growth rates for Gracilariopsis longissima, with a maximum value of 8% -1 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2003.12.003)
- line 475: I agree that seaweed human-consumption is on rise in Western countries (a term recently coined as phycogastronomy). It would be interesting to introduce seaweed as food in Colombia, probably first not as “pure” ingredients, but food containing seaweed (e.g., bread, snacks, etc.). A couple of references more in how phycogastronomy is entering in fine-dining western restaurants that could be added to the review: Mourtisen et al. 2018 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgfs.2018.09.002)
Author Response
Dear reviewer, thank you very much for each of your comments, I consider that each of them contributed to improve the document. I will now respond to each of your comments.
The manuscript is a review focused on the research addressed on Colombian seaweed resources. Since not too much scientific and/or technological research has been carried out in Colombia (compared to other neighboring countries), the manuscript is welcome. I have no major comments, since it compiles the major part of the works (published and grey literature), only some minor comments/recommendations.
- lines 35-36. Algal taxonomic groups are not only based on color (i.e., pigments). Storage products and cell ultrastructural attributes (i.e., chloroplasts, cell walls, flagella, etc.) are also criteria in stablishing the Phyla.
Answer: There are indeed other criteria for the classification of seaweeds, however we only refer to one of the most common (pigmentation), we change: "are" for "can be" which indicates to the reader that there are other types of classifications.
- lines 250-256. Growth rates vary along the year (seasonal variation). It should be noted in this paragraph since no further information about the season is given for the average values provided.
Answer: The paragraph is supplemented by including seasonal variation within the conditions affecting growth rates.
-line 258. Pérez-Lloréns et al. (2004) provide seasonal growth rates for Gracilariopsis longissima, with a maximum value of 8% -1 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2003.12.003)
Answer: The indicated work has been included as it is relevant to our review.
- line 475: I agree that seaweed human-consumption is on rise in Western countries (a term recently coined as phycogastronomy). It would be interesting to introduce seaweed as food in Colombia, probably first not as “pure” ingredients, but food containing seaweed (e.g., bread, snacks, etc.). A couple of references more in how phycogastronomy is entering in fine-dining western restaurants that could be added to the review: Mourtisen et al. 2018 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgfs.2018.09.002)
Answer: The observation made is in accordance with what is described in the paragraph, however, I do not wish to go deeper into the way of introducing these organisms in the Colombian diet since it is not the object of this review article. This is a topic that the reader who shows interest can substantially expand in the cited references. The reference recommended by the reviewer is included since it brings an approach that relates science with gastronomy.
Reviewer 3 Report
Excellent and informative paper reviewing the macroalgal resources of Colombia and their potential for cultivation. I thank the editors for allowing me the privilege of reviewing this manuscript and the authors for the excellent work. I recommend publishing essentially as is.
Author Response
Many thanks to the reviewer for his review and very positive comments.
