Physiological and Ecological Correlates of the Cellular and Humoral Innate Immune Responses in an Insular Desert Bat: The Fish-Eating Myotis (Myotis vivesi)
, José Juan Flores-Martínez 4, Carlos Rosales 5, Arturo Salame-Méndez 6 and L. Gerardo Herrera Montalvo. 7,*Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The manuscript was well written. However, it is better to cite updated references instead of the old ones. For example, lines 75-76: "Bats are the second.... (21)". In fact, bat diversity has been changed rapidly over the past decade. Therefore, it would be better to cite updated references (e.g. Wilson et al. 2019. Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN: 978-84-16728-19-0: 1008 pp.)
Author Response
We agree with the suggestion of the reviewer and cite an update source of bat diversity:
Simmons, N.B., and Cirranello A.L. 2021. Bat species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic database. Accessed on 08/01/2022.
Reviewer 2 Report
Overall, I would like to congratulate the authors of the manuscript entitled “Physiological and ecological correlates of the cellular and humoral innate immune responses in an insular desert bat: the Fish-eating Myotis (Myotis vivesi)” for the clarity of the text, the basic idea behind the study, which is novel and interesting. I think this ms is ready for publication, congratulations!
Author Response
We thank the reviewer for the comments. We made several corrections along the text, including correcting Fig. 5.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
Abstract
The abstract needs attention.
You start with a background move to a research question, go back to a background, move again to a research question
The general statement is not directly related to your study except of the aridity “Aridity and geographical isolation are two factors expected to shape immune expression in animals”
No need: In general, the swelling response of female and male bats was lower in spring
Is it new information?
Both external morphological traits and hormone levels indicated that females were pregnant in spring and lactating in summer, and that males were reproductively active in autumn, when mating probably occurs.
L37, 38 Change from in year 1 of the study to first year of the study
Change male bats to males
L39 it is not significant you can not state it
On line 37 you talk about BKA and then you move to swelling and then back to BKA
Change from At least in males,
These results may suggest that….
Delete lines 49-51.
What is your take home message?
Introduction
L. 94: Add: In this study, we….
L107: Delete it into relevant to the introduction.
L113: This is the place to talk about the aridity aspect of the study. Does it have any relevance to your research questions as the opening statement in your abstract declares?
Also look at:
Pilosof, S., Korine, C. Moore, M. and Krasnov, B. 2014. Sewage-water contamination alters immune response in a desert bat. Mammalian Biology-Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde, 79:183-188.
Korine, C. Pilosof, S. Gross, A. Morales-Malacara J.B. and Krasnov, B. 2017. The effect of water contamination and host-related factors on ectoparasite load in an insectivorous bat. Parasitology Research, 116:2517-2526.
Methods
We measured each individual´s body mass and forearm length to estimate the scaled mass 132 index (43) as an estimator of the body condition index (BCI);
Provide model of balance and caliper. Move ref 43 after BCI.
L154. You already discussed PHA in the introduction.
How many bats, and how many female, males?
How long this experiment lasted? Any signs of pain? Where the bats release in the place of the capture?
L171: The same questions as for the PHA experiment. – sample size, male, female.
Where was the experiment carried out?
Data analysis
L212: We compared indices”, indices of what?
Where is the statistical analysis for the steroid hormones?
Results
Line 252: the sentence is not clear in spring with significant differences with females in autumn
Line 262: “had higher value” values of what?
L283: Add the place and country of capture for all the figures and tables. Year if needed (Table 2 for example).
L319: The sentence is too long, please split.
L357: Delete significantly
Discussion
The discussion is too long, not focusing enough and consequently the take home messages are not always clear.
For example, lines 376-381 are all repetition of the results. Along the discussion there are parts where there is a repetition of the results.
Aridity is not discussed.
What is the take home message?
The end of the discussion includes topics that are not connected such as Mercery pollution.
Author Response
REVIEWER
Abstract
The abstract needs attention.
You start with a background move to a research question, go back to a background, move again to a research question
The general statement is not directly related to your study except of the aridity “Aridity and geographical isolation are two factors expected to shape immune expression in animals”
AUTHORS
We modified the 1st sentence to : “Immune response is affected by aridity, but it has been rarely examined in desert-dwelling bats.” and eliminated this sentence “The Fish-eating Myotis feeds regularly on marine fish and crustacea and it is endemic to desert islands in the Gulf of California, Mexico.”
REVIEWER
No need: In general, the swelling response of female and male bats was lower in spring.
AUTHORS
We are not sure what the reviewer suggested. We erased “In general.”
REVIEWER
Is it new information?
Both external morphological traits and hormone levels indicated that females were pregnant in spring and lactating in summer, and that males were reproductively active in autumn, when mating probably occurs.
AUTHORS
We erased this statement because it repeats information previously presented.
REVIEWER
L37, 38 Change from in year 1 of the study to first year of the study
AUTHORS
Done.
REVIEWER
Change male bats to males.
AUTHORS
Done.
REVIEWER
L39 it is not significant you can not state it
AUTHORS
We agree.
REVIEWER
On line 37 you talk about BKA and then you move to swelling and then back to BKA.
AUTHORS
We keep it the way it is because we organized the results in 4 sections for both swelling and PBA: 1) seasonality, 2) body condition, 3) parasite load, and 4) sex hormones.
REVIEWER
Change from At least in males,
AUTHORS
We eliminated this sentence: At least in males, Fish-eating Myotis with higher body mass and body condition might be in a better nutritional condition to respond to the PHA challenge.
REVIEWER
These results may suggest that….
AUTHORS
See end of abstract.
REVIEWER
Delete lines 49-51.
AUTHORS
Agree. Done.
REVIEWER
What is your take home message?
AUTHORS
We added some our conclusion at the end of the abstract (lines 41-45).
REVIEWER
Introduction
- 94: Add: In this study, we….
AUTHORS
Done.
REVIEWER
L107: Delete it into relevant to the introduction.
AUTHORS
We think that the information is relevant to the introduction.
REVIEWER
L113: This is the place to talk about the aridity aspect of the study. Does it have any relevance to your research questions as the opening statement in your abstract declares?
Also look at:
Pilosof, S., Korine, C. Moore, M. and Krasnov, B. 2014. Sewage-water contamination alters immune response in a desert bat. Mammalian Biology-Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde, 79:183-188.
Korine, C. Pilosof, S. Gross, A. Morales-Malacara J.B. and Krasnov, B. 2017. The effect of water contamination and host-related factors on ectoparasite load in an insectivorous bat. Parasitology Research, 116:2517-2526.
AUTHORS
We rearrange this section and include the suggested references (lines 136-143).
REVIEWER Methods
We measured each individual´s body mass and forearm length to estimate the scaled mass 132 index (43) as an estimator of the body condition index (BCI);
Provide model of balance and caliper. Move ref 43 after BCI.
AUTHORS
Both suggestions were included. Ref. 43 is ref.48 now.
REVIEWER
L154. You already discussed PHA in the introduction.
AUTHORS
We agree and deleted this part.
REVIEWER
How many bats, and how many female, males?
AUTHORS
We added that information.
REVIEWER
How long this experiment lasted? Any signs of pain? Where the bats release in the place of the capture?
AUTHORS
The length of the experiment is already pointed (12 hours after the injection). Since some of the information requested applies to all sampling procedures, we added the following in lines 208-212: “All the procedures were minimally invasive, and the bats were released in the place of capture within an hour after the last measurement or sample collection after being rehydrated with fresh water and fed with a small piece of fresh fish.”
REVIEWER
L171: The same questions as for the PHA experiment. – sample size, male, female.
AUTHORS
Samples size for each sex was already in Results. We moved that to Methods.
REVIEWER
Where was the experiment carried out?
AUTHORS
We added that information (lines 242-243).
REVIEWER Data analysis
L212: We compared indices”, indices of what?
AUTHORS
Swelling indices (added).
REVIEWER
Where is the statistical analysis for the steroid hormones?
AUTHORS
That was already presented in lines 303-310.
REVIEWER
Results
Line 252: the sentence is not clear in spring with significant differences with females in autumn.
AUTHORS
We corrected to: “..females had lower BCI in spring than in autumn (p = 0.04).”
REVIEWER Line 262: “had higher value” values of what?
AUTHORS
Of progesterone content. Fixed.
REVIEWER
L283: Add the place and country of capture for all the figures and tables. Year if needed (Table 2 for example).
AUTHORS
Place and country added in all tables and figures. We do not present year except where needed (Fig. 4A)
REVIEWER
L319: The sentence is too long, please split.
AUTHORS
We modified to (lines 424-431):
“In females (n = 57), progesterone content was not correlated with any inflammation index (Smaxper: r = 0.12, p =0.37; Smaxindiv: r = 0.20, p = 0.14); Figs. 3A-B). In contrast, estradiol content was significantly correlated with Smaxindiv (r = 0.32, p = 0.02; Fig. 3C) and it had a nearly significant correlation with Smaxper (r = 0.25, p = 0.07; Fig. D).”
REVIEWER
L357: Delete significantly.
AUTHORS
Done.
REVIEWER
Discussion
The discussion is too long, not focusing enough and consequently the take home messages are not always clear.
AUTHORS
We modified parts of the discussion.
REVIEWER
For example, lines 376-381 are all repetition of the results. Along the discussion there are parts where there is a repetition of the results.
AUTHORS
We reduced the reference to results to the minimum needed to place in context the discussion.
REVIEWER
Aridity is not discussed.
AUTHORS
We added some thoughts about this subject at the end of the discussion (lines 653-658).
REVIEWER
What is the take home message?
The end of the discussion includes topics that are not connected such as Mercery pollution.
AUTHORS
We modified the discussion (lines 648-653). We eliminated the microbiota part of the story.
Round 2
Reviewer 3 Report
The authors adequately replied to all my comments and questions.
I have few minor corrections that should be made before accepting the MS for publication.
L92 change from with other to on
Lines 103-106 change to past
Discussion
You repeat in detail the results on line 400 and on lines 413-417 and there is no need for that,
Line change from the body mass to body mass
Author Response
We addressed the comments as follows:
1-L92 change from with other to on.
We did so (line 141).
2-Lines 103-106 change to past.
We changed to past (lines 168-172).
3-You repeat in detail the results on line 400 and on lines 413-417 and there is no need for that.
We partly agree because we consider that the discussion needs some context. We shortened the sentences:
Lines 519-521: "Higher testosterone levels were measured in autumn, but the two males on which we measured testosterone in spring had similarly high values (19.6 and 14.6 ng/ml)."
Lines 547-549: "BKA in year 1 was lower in spring and summer than in winter, and that in spring and summer in year 2. Females collected in spring in year 1 were probably in early pregnancy, whereas females in year 2 were in a more advanced pregnancy stage."
4-Line change from the body mass to body mass.
We changed that (line 573).
