First Characterization of Nesting Behaviors of Leatherback Turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) and Hawksbill Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) in Martinique and Inter-Species Comparison
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript is very interesting for those of us who study sea turtles. I only suggest that the authors merge tables 2 and 3 to generate a comparative table and reinforce figure 2.
Author Response
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Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsLine11 and 26
What is the difference between "simple summary" and "abstract"? I am confused because all the key points between "simple summary" and "abstract" were similar.
Line 39
(Caretta caretta) and (Chelonia mydas) should be in italics.
Line 64
Replace the word " green sea turtles" with " green turtles ".
Line 76
Change “to lay” to “to lay their eggs”
Line 82
Remove scientific name of the leatherback sea turtle (previously mentioned).
Line 89
Remove scientific name of the hawksbill turtle (previously mentioned).
Change “90 cm” to “90 cm (curved carapace length ;CCL or straight carapace length ; SCL)”
Line 100
Change “are not immune” to “cannot avoid”
Line 107
Change “in these two species” to “in these two species in Martinique”
Line 118 Study sites
Please provide more detailed information on the nesting ecology data, including sand grain size, beach slope, dune type, vegetation diversity, and average sand temperatures at nesting beaches.
Line 132
High Resolution is needed for Figure 1.
Line 147
Change “obstacles” to “natural obstacles”
Line 151
Change “pineal gland” to “pineal spot”
Line 151
What is “rings”?
Line 205 and 206
Flipper tagging was used in this study?
“(n = 37) were clutches”: have any turtles had repeat egg laying?
Line 219-245
I recommend removing the factors that are not statistically significant.
Line 248 – 249
“(n = 199) were clutches”: have any turtles had repeat egg laying?
Line 269-298
I recommend removing the factors that are not statistically significant.
Line 378
Change “(15.27%))” to “(15.27%)”
Line 378-379
Change “This suggests that the differences in digging time are mainly due to the characteristics of the nest habitat. ” to “As a consequence of the aforementioned circumstances, the differences in digging time in our study are mainly due to the characteristics of the nest habitat ”
Line 381
Change “(9.79%))” to “(9.79%)”
Line 386
Change “(15.99%))” to “(15.99%)”
Line 385-87
Please discuss in more detail the factors that could potentially affect the camouflage time of nesting turtles.
Line 389
Change “(11.62%))” to “(11.62%)”
Line 391
Change “move faster” to “move faster on the nesting beach”
Line 403-404
I recommend removing this sentence: To improve our study, measuring times in seconds would provide greater precision.
Line 488
Add “in Martinique” after the “hawksbill turtles”.
Author Response
To make it easier to track corrections, our answers are written in blue in the attached PDF document.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis work, titled "First characterization of nesting behaviors of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) and hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) in Martinique and inter-species comparison" expands knowledge of two species in previously unstudied areas, though some uncertainties remain.
Line 87: This includes individuals that nest in the Eastern Pacific, for example on Mexican coasts, their period is from October to February. Check which region this refers to.
Line 119: Although the length of the beaches studied is mentioned, were there particular areas of those beaches where they nested more frequently, or was it irrelevant because they nested wherever? Explain
Line 147: Although it is indicated that obstacles would be measured, it is not indicated how they were measured or what the measurement of said barriers, if any, was based on, in addition to knowing whether it was as expected.
Line 160: It is understood that reference is being made to something previously published, however, data such as those indicated about people, lights, and others could enrich the description of the table.
Also, how many observers made the measurements, just one or how many, and whether or not it was reproducible?
Line 182: How did they measure the intensity of the light? It is not the same near the light source as it is far from it.
Line 188: What were these factors, describe them and how do they influence each other?
Line 205: Were there repeated individuals (same season or different years) or did it not matter? Expand discussion
Line 261: How does it affect obtaining the average time, as only 11 have been observed in the Accent and 44 in the Descent? Explain
Line 265: Explain what "multiple types" is
Line 353: Why might these variations be important? Relate them to failed nesting attempts. Explain
Line 407: Which beaches? All of them? Any in particular? Because the beaches have or had differences in this area. Explain
Line 417: Was there a way to measure how much sargassum there was and if this density factor was repeated in the same season and was consistent with other seasons and beaches? Explain.
Line 424: Why do these types of obstacles occur? Explain this in the introduction and expand the discussion so that readers can find the reason why more or fewer obstacles occur.
Line 453: Could it be due to specimen size or fin length? Expand discussion
Author Response
To make it easier to track corrections, our answers are written in blue in the attached PDF document.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
