Where Did You Come From? Where Did You Go? Investigating the Origin of Invasive Leptocybe Species Using Distribution Modelling

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Manuscript Number: Forests-415687

 

I have read with attention the MS titled: “Where did you come from, where did you go? Investigating the origin of invasive Leptocybe species using distribution modelling ” authored by: Beryn A. Otieno, Helen F. Nahrung and Martin J. Steinbauer.

The gall wasp Leptocybe invasahas been found for the first time in Italy in 2001, since then the species has become invasive worldwide. Recently, based on an integrative approach, it has been demonstrated that there are at least two cryptic species that also present two different reproductive modalities.

In a recent paper authors demonstrated with an integrative approach that the thelytokous species is responsible for the invasive process.

However, A large number of specimens collected in Australia did not establish the origin of the thelytokous species that was never found in Australia.

Authors used the climax program to try and figure out in which part of Australia this species might be native.

The work is generally interesting and well carried out. However it has some flaws. I think there are some aspects that should be improved. Overall the manuscript is well written with some little exceptions.

1) the ms has been submitted to Forests, but being focused on an insect and for its topic is more
suitable for another MDPI journal, "Insects". I strongly suggest to publishing this ms on Insects

2)   The eucalyptus species are not all native of Australia for which L. invasa could be native of another country. The authors never mention this information, it should be added. Please see: “ Hill KD, Johnson L. Systematic studies in the eucalypts. 10. New tropical and subtropical eucalypts rom Australia and New Guinea (Eucalyptus, Myrtaceae). Telopea. 2000; 8: 503–539. and  Orwa C, Mutua A, Kindt R, Jamnadass R, Anthony S. Agroforestree Database: a tree reference and selection guide version 4.0; 2009. World Agroforestry Centre, Kenya. Available: http://www.worldagroforestry.org/resources/databases/agroforestree

3)   The authors assert that the Chinese population of L invasa belongs only to one species; however, several papers reported very different reproductive characteristics for different L invasa population collected in different areas of China. This information is to be inserted in the ms.

4)   In the introduction, authors hint the existence of parasitoids but do not report that the invasive process of L. invasais almost completely controlled by Quadrastichus mendeli in some areas. This parasitoid is becoming widespread after the first releases. The authors should insert this information in the ms.

5)   The scales in figures 1 and 5 are illegible they should be enlarged

6)   The A-E appendices should be removed from ms and put as additional material.                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

7)   Due to eucalyptus are also native to other areas outside Australia the analysis carried out simply shows that there are some areas in Australia from which the species may most probably originate, not that it originates from Australia.

8)   The authors should highlight in the discussions whether the specific parasitoids Selitrichodes spp. and Q. mendeli were collected in the same areas suggested by the analysis performed. In this case, the authors' hypothesis would have another confirmation.

9)   Line 234 the authors wrote that only lineage B has been reported from China, which is partly true however, as highlighted in work 14 in China there are populations that have very different reproductive modalities and this suggests that both lineages could coexist. The authors should improve this sentence.

10)  Lines 244 and 254 there are blue editorial signs to be eliminated

11)  Lines 251-255 this sentence is debatable because often invasive species have a very low or almost no genetic variability, just see the Dryocosmus kuriphilus, Tuta absolutaand probably this is what proves successful in invasive processes, it was also shown that variability following an invasive process is restored very quickly (if necessary). I suggest reducing or eliminating this sentence. 

12)  Line 276 please add “biological” after molecular because the two species have different reproductive modalities.

Author Response

Please see attached

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

I have read this paper with interest and in general, I just have some general comments that I hope you can easily address.

Distribution range

Maybe a global map with the overall distribution for this species/group will be useful, which will be spatially intuitive and not just relating this type of information to Australia.

I do think you need to explore a bit better (e.g., discussion) the potential (detrimental) effects of this invasive (outside Australia) of this wasp for the forestry and for the pulp industry itself. Potentially, this may increase the interest of this paper to a wider audience

You sometimes use the term Mediterranean to describe the geographic area around most of Southern Europe, most of North Africa and Middle East (Asia). I guess when you are mention other areas in Africa you missing that this species may be also present in Eucalyptus stands in Mediterranean Africa. So, make it clear and sorry if I just got confused by the term.

Altitude effect

I am wondering if the importance of altitude in the models is not just correlated with temperature and with cold extremes, but also with lack of suitable habitats, for instance.  In Iberia, Eucalyptus plantations are rare above 700 m, though they my occur in some areas.

Temperature

Did you try for the Northern hemisphere the minimum temperature for the coldest month, which is January?

Check wording in line 191.

Author Response

Please see attached

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors answered my questions as well as accepted my suggestions of changing some parts or adding some new information on the manuscript. I am satisfied with this second version and consequently I have not objections now to its publication.

Author Response

We have made all the revisions suggested by the Academic Editor and by MDPI, inc. provision of a higher resolution version of Figure 4. Please note that CLIMEX is not an abbreviation of a longer name.

If possible, the invoice for the publication of our paper should be forwarded directly to Dr Helen Nahrung at University of the Sunshine Coast (email address given on ms).