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  • Giulio Panicucci 1,
  • Carolina Chiellini 2,† and
  • Thais Huarancca Reyes 1
  • et al.

Reviewer 1: Ruchi Pathania Reviewer 2: Anonymous

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The study investigates how microalgal isolates from underexplored habitats respond to varying white light intensities, with a focus on photosynthetic performance and photoprotective strategies. Below are comments/suggestions: 

1. Grammatical error 

  1. Instead of “total antioxidants was induced”, use “total antioxidant levels were increased”.
  2. Instead of “came from same habitat origin”, use “came from the same habitat”.
  3. Instead of “scavengers pool”, use “scavenger pool” or “pool of scavengers”.
  4. The sentence “F4 also showed low ability to reorganize its antennae” replace with “F4 exhibited limited capacity for antennae reorganization”. 

 2. Discuss how the observed photoprotective responses reflect evolutionary adaptation to different light environments. Highlight potential applications, such as using light-resilient strains in bioenergy production, algal biomass cultivation, or photobioreactor optimisation. 

3. Provide more detail on how the different light intensities were established in the experimental design. Including a diagram or image of the experimental setup would enhance clarity and reproducibility. 

Author Response

The study investigates how microalgal isolates from underexplored habitats respond to varying white light intensities, with a focus on photosynthetic performance and photoprotective strategies. Below are comments/suggestions: 

  1. Grammatical error 
  1. Instead of “total antioxidants was induced”, use “total antioxidant levels were increased”.

REPLY: Modified as suggested.

  1. Instead of “came from same habitat origin”, use “came from the same habitat”.

REPLY: Modified as suggested.

  1. Instead of “scavengers pool”, use “scavenger pool” or “pool of scavengers”.

REPLY: Modified as suggested.

  1. The sentence “F4 also showed low ability to reorganize its antennae” replace with “F4 exhibited limited capacity for antennae reorganization”. 

REPLY: Modified as suggested.

  1. Discuss how the observed photoprotective responses reflect evolutionary adaptation to different light environments. Highlight potential applications, such as using light-resilient strains in bioenergy production, algal biomass cultivation, or photobioreactor optimisation.

Reply: In our discussion, we have thoroughly examined how the observed photoprotective responses reflect evolutionary adaptations to different light environments. Our findings highlight the distinct acclimation strategies exhibited by microalgae from Mediterranean and Andean ecosystems, demonstrating how their photophysiological responses are shaped by both environmental constraints and phylogenetic diversity. In addition, concerning potential applications, we have incorporated a sentence at the end of our discussion as suggested.

  1. Provide more detail on how the different light intensities were established in the experimental design. Including a diagram or image of the experimental setup would enhance clarity and reproducibility. 

REPLY: More details are now reported in the M&M section of the revised manuscript.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript is good prepared, with good design of experiments and new topics in study of phylogenetic proximity vs. environmental adaptation to different conditions of light and effect of this on different species from strain of lowland conditions (Mediterranean inland swamp) and Ecuadorian highland lake conditions.

I would to ask to authors if I correctly understand the line 124 – in the case of measuring of Abs for MAAs and for Chla they calculate the area below the whole peak between 319-350 nm, and 630-680 nm, respectively. Is it like that? If yes, I have no note to this part.

I have other recommendations:

L. 102 – Petri is name, please, repair it as with capital letter

L. 114 – please, insert here, which equations from this source did you used for Chla, Chlb and total carotenoids calculation. Did you calculate it per ml of homogenate of per mg of fresh mass, or dry mass, respectively?

L. 144-147 – please, introduce also what is Fv, Fm, F0 and Fm’ here.

Fig. 2 – there should be the same number of decimal positions at y-axis, also for number 1 as 1.0.

Fig. 3 – same as for Fig. 2 with the decimal numbers at y-axis. Moreover, for A) and B) in title for y-axis in brackets – this calculation have to be clarified already in Materials and Methods. Dont be better insert here as unit for Chla+b and Car as „%“?  Same for MAAs and TAC on Fig. 4 – please, insert the calculation in Methodology and here is maybe more clearly insert only % as unit in brackets on y-axis.

L. 269 and following text – use Chlamydomonadales instead of incorrect Chlamydomonales

Author Response

The manuscript is good prepared, with good design of experiments and new topics in study of phylogenetic proximity vs. environmental adaptation to different conditions of light and effect of this on different species from strain of lowland conditions (Mediterranean inland swamp) and Ecuadorian highland lake conditions.

I would to ask to authors if I correctly understand the line 124 – in the case of measuring of Abs for MAAs and for Chla they calculate the area below the whole peak between 319-350 nm, and 630-680 nm, respectively. Is it like that? If yes, I have no note to this part.

Reply: Yes. The calculation description was better clarified in the revised version.

I have other recommendations:

  1. 102 – Petri is name, please, repair it as with capital letter

REPLY: Modified as suggested.

  1. 114 – please, insert here, which equations from this source did you used for Chla, Chlband total carotenoids calculation. Did you calculate it per ml of homogenate of per mg of fresh mass, or dry mass, respectively?

Reply: Equations were included in the revised version. Pigment calculation was per mL of culture.

  1. 144-147 – please, introduce also what is Fv, Fm, F0 and Fm’ here.

REPLY: The meaning of Fv, Fm, F0 and Fm’ is now included in the M&M.

Fig. 2 – there should be the same number of decimal positions at y-axis, also for number 1 as 1.0.

Reply: Figure 2 y-axis was corrected as reviewer’s suggestion.

Fig. 3 – same as for Fig. 2 with the decimal numbers at y-axis. Moreover, for A) and B) in title for y-axis in brackets – this calculation have to be clarified already in Materials and Methods. Dont be better insert here as unit for Chla+b and Car as „%“?  Same for MAAs and TAC on Fig. 4 – please, insert the calculation in Methodology and here is maybe more clearly insert only % as unit in brackets on y-axis.

Reply: Figures 3 and 4 were corrected as reviewer’s suggestion.

  1. 269 and following text – use Chlamydomonadales instead of incorrect Chlamydomonales

Reply: Term was corrected accordingly in the revised version.

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript was enough improved. However, to avoid of any uncertainty I suggest to insert equation at line 130:

“…comparing T18 with T0 as (T18/T0)*100, which…”

At line 126:

“(Lichtenthaler, 1987), as follows (in mg mL-1):”

Author Response

Reviewer 2:


The manuscript was enough improved. However, to avoid of any uncertainty I suggest to insert equation at line 130: “…comparing T18 with T0 as (T18/T0)*100, which…”

Reply: The equation was added as suggested.

At line 126: “(Lichtenthaler, 1987), as follows (in mg mL-1):”

Reply: The unit was added as suggested.