A New Gonolobus Species (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae) from Sinaloa, Mexico^†

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The present study describes a new species of the genus Gonolobus. The manuscript is well drafted, with only a few comments that the authors should take into account.

1. The discussion of the species hypothesis in the methodology section is very useful, but it could be considered whether this part of the text could be used for the introduction. I do not have a strong preference for this part, but I would advise the authors to look into the possibility of moving a large part of the text to the introduction.

2. In the description of the new species (line 119), the authors of the name of the taxon should be given in the same way as these names are already accepted and used in the literature and in databases (instead of LO Alvarado, it should be L.O.Alvarado, as it is in the IPNI database).

3. Section 3.2 should be incorporated into the main text of the results. I think it is completely irrelevant to separate the illustrations into a separate subsection, as they are an integral part of the species description. 

The English is good, but some of the sentences should be edited to make the text more fluent and clear. 

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

In a manuscript submitted for publication in Taxonomy, Alvarado-Cárdenas and colleagues describe a new species of Gonolobus - Gonolobus villasenorii - from Sinaloa, northwest Mexico. Overall, I found the article well-written and interesting. The presentation of the results is clear and attractive. The methodology and conclusions are scientifically sound. The manuscript is therefore of potential interest to a relatively wide readership in areas such as plant taxonomy and plant biology. However, I believe that the article needs to be corrected before publication. My first suggestion is to shorten the title to "A new species of Gonolobus (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae) from Sinaloa (Mexico)". Please note that we do not use periods to end titles. Secondly, the formatting of the article should be improved according to the journal's guidelines. Next, Latin names of taxa should be italicized in figure descriptions and finally, the manuscript needs a thorough revision in English.

English needs strong revision.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I have finished reviewing the manuscript, “A new Gonolobus species (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae, Asclepiadeae, Gonolobinae) from Sinaloa, Mexico”. The authors investigated the new species recorded from Sinaloa, Mexico.

Abstract;

Your abstract appears well-structured and informative. However, there are a few minor grammatical and stylistic suggestions that could enhance its clarity and readability:

·       Consider adding an introductory sentence to provide context or background before jumping into the specific details of the new species. For example: "In this study, we describe a new species of Gonolobus, G. villasenorii, which is endemic to Sinaloa, Mexico and is distributed in the Sierra Madre Occidental in pine-oak forests."

·       In sentence 4, you could rephrase it for conciseness: "A detailed description of the new species includes data on its habitat, ecology, phenology, conservation status, a distribution map, and a section on how to recognize it in comparison to similar species."

Introduction

·        The section about the diversity of Gonolobus in Mexico could be improved for clarity. Consider rephrasing to make it more concise and structured. For example: "In Mexico, Gonolobus is highly diverse and widespread, with presence in all states except Baja California and Coahuila. Among the 45 species recorded in Mexico, more than half (55%) are endemic, and several recent descriptions have expanded our understanding of this diversity."

·        The last paragraph in the introduction, where you mention your fieldwork and the discovery of a new species, is well-structured. However, you might want to include a brief statement about the significance of this discovery or how it contributes to the existing knowledge.

Methodology

·        Consider breaking down this section into smaller paragraphs for improved readability. You can have separate paragraphs for different aspects of your methods, such as specimen collection, identification, measurements, and data processing.

Results

Your taxonomic treatment section is well-detailed and includes all the necessary information. However, to enhance clarity and readability, you can consider the following suggestions:

·        In the "Diagnosis" section, consider specifying the characteristics that distinguish Gonolobus villasenorii from similar species in a more structured manner. For example: "Gonolobus villasenorii differs from Gonolobus erianthus in the following ways: lanceolate sepals (as opposed to broadly ovate sepals in Gonolobus erianthus), margin of corolla lobes with a greenish-white callus (compared to cristate margin with green callus in Gonolobus erianthus), and anthers with narrowly rectangular dorsal appendages (versus quadrangular dorsal appendages)."

·        In the "Phenology" section, consider specifying the months that correspond to late July and August. Providing the specific months would make it clearer to readers.

·        The "Etymology" section is well-written, but you could include a sentence to explain why Dr. José Luis Villaseñor Ríos was chosen for this honor. What contributions or connections make this dedication significant?

·        The "Conservation status" section is informative, but it might be helpful to briefly explain the criteria used to assess the conservation status, especially for readers who may not be familiar with the IUCN Red List criteria.

Discussion

·        Consider adding a brief summary or statement at the beginning of the discussion to highlight the key findings and significance of this new species for readers.

·        It would be helpful to clarify the characteristics or criteria that distinguish endemic species in Sinaloa. What makes a species endemic to the state, and why is it significant?

·        In the section where you compare Gonolobus villasenorii to other similar species, you might want to provide a table or a structured format that summarizes the key differences. This can help readers quickly grasp the distinctions.

·        When discussing the distribution and habitat of Gonolobus villasenorii, you could mention any specific ecological factors that make this region unique or important for the species.

·        Consider elaborating on the ecological and conservation significance of the new species in the context of its limited distribution and potential threats, as this would provide a more comprehensive discussion.

·        6. Discuss the broader implications of this discovery. How does it contribute to our understanding of Gonolobus diversity and its distribution in Mexico?

·        7. In the final paragraph, you briefly mention the distribution of G. erianthus but could elaborate on the significance of this distribution and how it contrasts with G. villasenorii's range.

English is fine

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Compared to the original version, the authors have significantly improved the manuscript. This is a much better version of the manuscript than the previous submission. I have no further comments. My recommendation is for the publication of this article.

The paper is written in good English. Only minor English language editing is required.

Author Response

Thank you very much for your comments, they allowed us to substantially improve the article for publication.

Reviewer 3 Report

I express gratitude to the authors for enhancing the manuscript. The document has undergone significant improvements and is now worthy of consideration for publication.

Author Response

Thank you very much for your comments, they allowed us to substantially improve the article for publication.