Video Transect-Based Coral Demographic Investigation
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsA new digital approach was introduced in this study for extracting demographic data on species abundances, sizes, and positions of corals. I think this method can greatly optimize data collection, and didn’t restricted by time constraints. This word is well done and interesting and I have some minor suggestions for revision as following.
(1) Line 40 Please introduce more about the application of digital approach in coral reef ecosystem of other ecosystems. Is this the first study of digital approach in coral reef ecosystem?
(2) Why do you conduct this study in 10 m water depth? Can water depths influence the result of digital approach? For example, some corals can survive at 30 m water depth, can the digital approach reflect the coral survival, growth, and recruitment well in that region?
(3) How small coral can be found using digital approach? In this figure, I think this region (red circle) seems like a small coral, but this coral didn’t show in the right figure.
(4) 5 m×0.8 m video transects was recorded in the materials and methods section. Coral distribution was only shown with 0.6 m width. What’s the proper width for this method?
(5) Is the unit of the ordinate missing in figure 3.
(6) In traditional survey, coral cover is the key index for the coral reef ecosystem. Hard coral cover was measured by calculating the fraction of the length of the line that was intercepted on the transect rope by live corals. Here, the digital approach whether or not can calculate the index of coral cover? if the method can, I suggest you can show the result, and discuss with the traditional method.
(7) The format of references should be unified, such as the first letter uppercase in each word of title.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsReview for the paper “Video transect based coral demographic investigation”.
Demographic studies are crucial tools for analyzing survival, propagation, and growth rates and yielding valuable information about the origins of demographic bottlenecks and predicting community dynamics. However, their practicality typically requires detailed surveys of populations in their natural habitats, which can be time-consuming and difficult to replicate on a larger, long-term basis. The researchers proposed a standardized, digital approach to gather data on species abundance, size, and locations. This optimized data collection time in field environments. The algorithm was then used on a reef-building coral community in New Caledonia, exhibiting its effectiveness in producing comprehensive datasets to describe the coral community's composition and demographic performance. The authors have uncovered new insights into life strategies and adaptation mechanisms in hydrodynamic environments. The collected data and adopted methodologies have significant implications for further investigations, as well as for monitoring and restoring degraded coral communities.
These reasons underscore the significance of the paper submitted by Mohsen Kayal and co-authors to the journal "Coasts."
General assessment:
The findings contained within the authors' study are both original and highly pertinent. An appropriate study design was utilized, and the sampling methods incorporated were befitting. The quality of statistical analysis generally meets superior technical standards. Given its relevance, this research is likely to engross a broad spectrum of specialists engaged in coral reef investigations.
The manuscript is articulately written with only minor suggestions noted for augmentation:
Recommendations:
1. The abstract would benefit from a more detailed explanation of the results obtained from this innovative approach.
2. The segment located between lines 40 and 46 would be better placed at the end of the introduction.
3. Figures 1 and 3 provide necessary information and it is recommended that they are included in the main text instead of being relegated to the Supplementary Material.
4. Additional information regarding the identification guidelines used for coral species should be provided.
5. The authors used the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test to compare size distributions among six different species and employed Generalized Linear Mixed-effect Models to illustrate coral survival and growth rates. These methodology approaches should be clearly mentioned in the Materials and Methods section, along with necessary modifications in the text.
6. The authors should include data on the oceanographic setting in the study area for 2021 and 2022. Efforts to examine the connection between changes in the oceanographic regime and the differences in community composition and diversity are warranted. For example, the text highlights the effects of high wave energy on the reef, and it is crucial to investigate the impact of this and other factors on the community.
7. Proper citation and reference formatting in compliance with the Instructions for Authors is required.
Specific remarks.
L 16, 113. Consider replacing “size-measurements” with “size measurements”
L 17. Consider replacing “thought it” with “though it”
L 31. Consider replacing “As ecosystems weather growing environmental changes” with “As ecosystems face increasing environmental change”
L 36. Consider replacing “life-strategies” with “life strategies”
L 45. Consider replacing “on a reef building” with “to a reef-building”
L 51. Consider replacing “threats for tropical marine biodiversity” with “threats to tropical marine biodiversity”
L 117, 130. Consider replacing “size-distribution” with “size distribution”
L 206. Consider replacing “data acquisitions” with “data acquisition”
L 210. Consider replacing “to ecosystems press for increased quantitative knowledge on” with “on ecosystems call for increased quantitative knowledge of”
L 240. Consider replacing “As other coral reefs” with “Like other coral reefs”
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageMinor
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
