Effects of Sex and Whole Life Cycle UVB Irradiation on Performance and Mineral and Vitamin D3 Contents in Feeder Crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus)
, Amanda Ferguson 1, Jade Newton-Youens 2, Robert Harland 1 and Ross Hickles 1
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Dear Authors,
Thank you for submitting this interesting paper that investigates the D3 concentration of UV-exposed black crickets. This is a clearly written and structured paper. I have just a few comments relating to minor wording or structure points. The main area for consideration is with regards to other confounding variables that might differ between the conditions (e.g. heat). It may well be that there is no difference in this respect between conditions - just confirm if this is indeed the case. Additionally, see to comments attached the the PDF manuscript.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
We are grateful for the comments from the reviewer. We have incorporated all the changes suggested by the reviewer on the MS, save two, which are addressed below:
Y labels on figure 1. While we understand the request to include separate axis labels for each graph pane, we prefer not to do so as it substantially interferes with graph size and makes the graphs less clear. The shared y axis labels are, in our opinion, a clearer approach and allow for a cleaner and more easily read set of graphs.
Heat considerations (line 299): following an earlier commnet, we have clarified that the film used on lamps did not interrupt infrared light, and that the temperature conditions in each treatment were similar, so there are no heat considerations (especially as we found no effect of lighting and the bulk of the results discusses differences between sexes across the entire sample.
Best wishes
Chris
Reviewer 2 Report
The findings of the current investigation is interesting. The authors mentioned that UVB exposure have no or minimal effect in nutrients enrichment in crickets. But not added any literature evidence that UVB exposure results in nutrients enrichment in insects previously.
Other comments are mentioned in the PDF attached
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
Thank you for your helpful comments. We have made all requested adjustments other than two, detailed below.
Comment: Literature evidence regarding the mechanism of Nutrients enrichment due to UVB is missing? How the UVB exposure helps in nutrient enrichment? Is there any mechanism or chemical ways that altered or improve by UVB which results in nutrients enrichment in insects?
Response: we have clarified that this information remains unknown in invertebrates, so it cannot be commented on. It was only recently demonstrated that some insects can potentially produce D3 in response to UVB at all.
Comment: Previous literatures regarding the UVB exposure results in nutrient enrichment in insect species?
Response: Thanks for this comment. We have already discussed the extrememly limited literature on this subject in the first paragaph of the Discussion.
Best wishes
Chris
