Climate Change Impact on the Distribution of Forest Species in the Brazilian Amazon

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Rising temperatures can affect the optimal conditions required for the growth and survival of specific plant species, How to quantify this ?

Changes in precipitation can impact water availability, influencing the distribution of species adapted to specific moisture levels ? How to incorporate this in the present study ?

Addressing the impacts of climate change on the distribution of forest species in the Brazilian Amazon requires a multifaceted approach that includes robust conservation measures, sustainable land management, and global efforts to mitigate climate change?

Why author select only 2 scenarios? How many models were used for the present study?

Author Response

For reviewers

Initially, we apologize to the reviewers for not having previously sent the supplementary (Table S1) material that answers most of the questions addressed. In this version, we included supplementary material (Table S1) and accepted all reviewers’ suggestions. We carried out an extensive review of the English by two professionals, with a professional qualified for the language and after that we sent it to another native specialist.

Reviewer #1

Rising temperatures can affect the optimal conditions required for the growth and survival of specific plant species, How to quantify this?  We answer this question at the end of item 3.4. In addition to the studies carried out that address bioclimatic variables with the geospatial distribution of plants, experimental studies can be carried out under controlled conditions to verify how rising temperatures can affect the optimal conditions required for the growth and survival of specific plant species. These studies include monitoring, at different temperatures, for the same species, pollen production, pollination, fruiting, growth and mortality of plant populations, as well as the evaluation of physiological responses, such as photosynthesis and transpiration rates [49].

For this question: changes in precipitation can impact water availability, influencing the distribution of species adapted to specific moisture levels? How to incorporate this in the present study? For the present study, bioclimatic variables were used, such as precipitation patterns (Annual Precipitation, Precipitation of the wettest month, Precipitation of the driest month, Seasonality of precipitation, Precipitation of the wettest quarter, Precipitation of the driest quarter, Precipitation of the quarter warmest Quarter and Precipitation of the coldest quarter). This allows the model to identify how changes in precipitation will affect species distribution.

Addressing the impacts of climate change on the distribution of forest species in the Brazilian Amazon requires a multifaceted approach that includes robust conservation measures, sustainable land management, and global efforts to mitigate climate change? We agree and include the information. Addressing the impacts of climate change on the distribution of forest species in the Brazilian Amazon requires an approach that involves multidisciplinary studies and actions including robust conservation measures, sustainable land management and global actions to mitigate climate change.

Why author select only 2 scenarios? How many models were used for the present study? Because limiting the number of scenarios is a practical and effective approach to focusing on the most relevant uncertainties, managing computational complexity and ensuring the interpretability of results. Therefore, we chose the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios because studies show that they are the ones with the most consistent predictions (IPCC, 2021, Bai et al., 2023; Bonsoms et al., 2024). The answer about the number of models is already in the text, 3 atmospheric circulation models (HadGEM-GC31-LL, IPSL-CM6-LR and MIROC6).

Bai, T.; Fan, L.; Song, G.; Song, H.; Ru, X.; Wang, Y.; Zhang, H.; Min, R.; Wang, W. Effects of Land Use/Cover and Meteorological Changes on Regional Climate under Different SSP-RCP Scenarios: A Case Study in Zhengzhou, China. Remote Sens. 2023, 15, 2601. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15102601

BONSOMS, J.; OLIVA, M.; ALONSO-GONZÁLEZ, E. REVUELTO, J.; LÓPEZ-MORENO, J. I.  Impact of climate change on snowpack dynamics in coastal Central-Western Greenland. Science of The Total Environment, V. 913, 169616, 2024. DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169616.

Reviewer #2

This research focuses on four tree species. Please add notes regarding each tree species' growth characteristics, vulnerability to human activity, difficulty of regeneration, etc. By doing so, we believe that the reasons for deforestation in this study can be further clarified.

We answer this question at the end of item 3.5. The forest species studied are considered vulnerable to exploitation and commercialization due to the good quality of the wood and there are no records of commercial plantation areas. They are slow-growing and large species, they are difficult to reproduce, seed production is low in quantity or quality, and the matrices are in places that are difficult to access for collecting seeds [11].

Reviewer #3

We carried out an extensive review of the English by two professionals, with a professional qualified for the language and after that we sent it to another native specialist.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

This is a dynamic research paper on deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon region.

Please provide additional explanation on the following points, if possible.

This research focuses on four tree species. Please add notes regarding each tree species' growth characteristics, vulnerability to human activity, difficulty of regeneration, etc. By doing so, we believe that the reasons for deforestation in this study can be further clarified.

Author Response

For reviewers

Initially, we apologize to the reviewers for not having previously sent the supplementary (Table S1) material that answers most of the questions addressed. In this version, we included supplementary material (Table S1) and accepted all reviewers’ suggestions. We carried out an extensive review of the English by two professionals, with a professional qualified for the language and after that we sent it to another native specialist.

Reviewer #1

Rising temperatures can affect the optimal conditions required for the growth and survival of specific plant species, How to quantify this?  We answer this question at the end of item 3.4. In addition to the studies carried out that address bioclimatic variables with the geospatial distribution of plants, experimental studies can be carried out under controlled conditions to verify how rising temperatures can affect the optimal conditions required for the growth and survival of specific plant species. These studies include monitoring, at different temperatures, for the same species, pollen production, pollination, fruiting, growth and mortality of plant populations, as well as the evaluation of physiological responses, such as photosynthesis and transpiration rates [49].

For this question: changes in precipitation can impact water availability, influencing the distribution of species adapted to specific moisture levels? How to incorporate this in the present study? For the present study, bioclimatic variables were used, such as precipitation patterns (Annual Precipitation, Precipitation of the wettest month, Precipitation of the driest month, Seasonality of precipitation, Precipitation of the wettest quarter, Precipitation of the driest quarter, Precipitation of the quarter warmest Quarter and Precipitation of the coldest quarter). This allows the model to identify how changes in precipitation will affect species distribution.

Addressing the impacts of climate change on the distribution of forest species in the Brazilian Amazon requires a multifaceted approach that includes robust conservation measures, sustainable land management, and global efforts to mitigate climate change? We agree and include the information. Addressing the impacts of climate change on the distribution of forest species in the Brazilian Amazon requires an approach that involves multidisciplinary studies and actions including robust conservation measures, sustainable land management and global actions to mitigate climate change.

Why author select only 2 scenarios? How many models were used for the present study? Because limiting the number of scenarios is a practical and effective approach to focusing on the most relevant uncertainties, managing computational complexity and ensuring the interpretability of results. Therefore, we chose the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios because studies show that they are the ones with the most consistent predictions (IPCC, 2021, Bai et al., 2023; Bonsoms et al., 2024). The answer about the number of models is already in the text, 3 atmospheric circulation models (HadGEM-GC31-LL, IPSL-CM6-LR and MIROC6).

Bai, T.; Fan, L.; Song, G.; Song, H.; Ru, X.; Wang, Y.; Zhang, H.; Min, R.; Wang, W. Effects of Land Use/Cover and Meteorological Changes on Regional Climate under Different SSP-RCP Scenarios: A Case Study in Zhengzhou, China. Remote Sens. 2023, 15, 2601. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15102601

BONSOMS, J.; OLIVA, M.; ALONSO-GONZÁLEZ, E. REVUELTO, J.; LÓPEZ-MORENO, J. I.  Impact of climate change on snowpack dynamics in coastal Central-Western Greenland. Science of The Total Environment, V. 913, 169616, 2024. DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169616.

Reviewer #2

This research focuses on four tree species. Please add notes regarding each tree species' growth characteristics, vulnerability to human activity, difficulty of regeneration, etc. By doing so, we believe that the reasons for deforestation in this study can be further clarified.

We answer this question at the end of item 3.5. The forest species studied are considered vulnerable to exploitation and commercialization due to the good quality of the wood and there are no records of commercial plantation areas. They are slow-growing and large species, they are difficult to reproduce, seed production is low in quantity or quality, and the matrices are in places that are difficult to access for collecting seeds [11].

Reviewer #3

We carried out an extensive review of the English by two professionals, with a professional qualified for the language and after that we sent it to another native specialist.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

The impacts of climate change and deforestation on the Amazon rainforest of are great global importance. By examining the potential impact of various abiotic factors on the distribution and abundance of 5 tree species, this study offers insights into how climate change could alter the geographic distribution of these species. Additionally, the study indicates that changes are likely to be most directly related to temperature seasonality and soil sand content (likely relating to water and nutrient availability). The approach taken here through use of ecological niche models seems valid and appropriate, as is the use of principle components analysis. I found the colored figures to be especially informative and useful as a means of reporting results from the study.

The language of the paper clearly needs extensive revision. Among the common issues I noted were the occasional inclusion of Portuguese words rather than English (e.g., "e" rather than "and"), errors in sentence structure, and some inappropriate word choices.

Author Response

For reviewers

Initially, we apologize to the reviewers for not having previously sent the supplementary (Table S1) material that answers most of the questions addressed. In this version, we included supplementary material (Table S1) and accepted all reviewers’ suggestions. We carried out an extensive review of the English by two professionals, with a professional qualified for the language and after that we sent it to another native specialist.

Reviewer #1

Rising temperatures can affect the optimal conditions required for the growth and survival of specific plant species, How to quantify this?  We answer this question at the end of item 3.4. In addition to the studies carried out that address bioclimatic variables with the geospatial distribution of plants, experimental studies can be carried out under controlled conditions to verify how rising temperatures can affect the optimal conditions required for the growth and survival of specific plant species. These studies include monitoring, at different temperatures, for the same species, pollen production, pollination, fruiting, growth and mortality of plant populations, as well as the evaluation of physiological responses, such as photosynthesis and transpiration rates [49].

For this question: changes in precipitation can impact water availability, influencing the distribution of species adapted to specific moisture levels? How to incorporate this in the present study? For the present study, bioclimatic variables were used, such as precipitation patterns (Annual Precipitation, Precipitation of the wettest month, Precipitation of the driest month, Seasonality of precipitation, Precipitation of the wettest quarter, Precipitation of the driest quarter, Precipitation of the quarter warmest Quarter and Precipitation of the coldest quarter). This allows the model to identify how changes in precipitation will affect species distribution.

Addressing the impacts of climate change on the distribution of forest species in the Brazilian Amazon requires a multifaceted approach that includes robust conservation measures, sustainable land management, and global efforts to mitigate climate change? We agree and include the information. Addressing the impacts of climate change on the distribution of forest species in the Brazilian Amazon requires an approach that involves multidisciplinary studies and actions including robust conservation measures, sustainable land management and global actions to mitigate climate change.

Why author select only 2 scenarios? How many models were used for the present study? Because limiting the number of scenarios is a practical and effective approach to focusing on the most relevant uncertainties, managing computational complexity and ensuring the interpretability of results. Therefore, we chose the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios because studies show that they are the ones with the most consistent predictions (IPCC, 2021, Bai et al., 2023; Bonsoms et al., 2024). The answer about the number of models is already in the text, 3 atmospheric circulation models (HadGEM-GC31-LL, IPSL-CM6-LR and MIROC6).

Bai, T.; Fan, L.; Song, G.; Song, H.; Ru, X.; Wang, Y.; Zhang, H.; Min, R.; Wang, W. Effects of Land Use/Cover and Meteorological Changes on Regional Climate under Different SSP-RCP Scenarios: A Case Study in Zhengzhou, China. Remote Sens. 2023, 15, 2601. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15102601

BONSOMS, J.; OLIVA, M.; ALONSO-GONZÁLEZ, E. REVUELTO, J.; LÓPEZ-MORENO, J. I.  Impact of climate change on snowpack dynamics in coastal Central-Western Greenland. Science of The Total Environment, V. 913, 169616, 2024. DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169616.

Reviewer #2

This research focuses on four tree species. Please add notes regarding each tree species' growth characteristics, vulnerability to human activity, difficulty of regeneration, etc. By doing so, we believe that the reasons for deforestation in this study can be further clarified.

We answer this question at the end of item 3.5. The forest species studied are considered vulnerable to exploitation and commercialization due to the good quality of the wood and there are no records of commercial plantation areas. They are slow-growing and large species, they are difficult to reproduce, seed production is low in quantity or quality, and the matrices are in places that are difficult to access for collecting seeds [11].

Reviewer #3

We carried out an extensive review of the English by two professionals, with a professional qualified for the language and after that we sent it to another native specialist.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf