Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus Stoichiometry between Leaf and Soil Exhibit the Different Expansion Stages of Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis (Carriere) J. Houzeau) into Chinese Fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.) Forest
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
I have reviewed the manuscript title “Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry between leaf and soil exhibit the different expansion stages of Phyllostachys edulis into Cunninghamia lanceolata Forest” thoroughly.
General recommendations
1. Provide graphical abstract for the paper which represents the whole scheme of study.
Title
1. Write the complete botanical name of the plant according to the ICBN rules.
Abstract
1. Revise abstract by providing the study background, then aims of the study, methodology adopted, results and conclusions.
METHODOLOGY
Site description
1. a frost free period of around 290d. What is meant by “d”?
2. The soil is mainly oxidized soil. What do you mean from oxidized?
3. Associated with a few broad leaf species include Schima superba, Choerospondias axillaris and Liriodendron chinense. Please write botanical names according to ICBN rules.
Experimental design
1. Which methodology you adopted? Explain the methodology.
Leaf and soil sampling
1. If you have develop this methodology please explain it in detail or provide citation/reference if you have adopted the methodology of someone else.
RESULTS
Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry characteristics of moso bamboo leaves at different stages of expansion towards Chinese fir forest
1. Leaf C, N, and P (LC, LN, LP) contents varied with fluctuation in the forest of moso bamboo expansion to Chinese fir with a significant linear relationship only in LN, and LP displayed significant differences. What is the reason? Support your result by providing evidence from the literature.
2. Moreover, with the increase in the proportion of moso bamboo expansion towards Chinese fir forest, the fluctuating changes of LC and LP were consistent showing increase-decrease-increase-decrease, in contrast to LN which showed decrease-increase-decrease, and the elemental contents showed II>IV>I>V>III for LC and LP，IV>I>III>II>V for LN. What is the reason? Support your result by providing evidence from the literature.
3. Changes in stoichiometric ratios between LC, LN and LP were influenced by the correspondingly contents and also showed large fluctuations in the forest which moso bamboo expansion to Chinese fir. What is the reason? Support your result by providing evidence from the literature.
4. LC:LN decreased sharply at stage III of expansion, showed its lowest value (6.49) in the stands which had nearly 50% moso bamboo, while showed consistency in both moso bamboo and Chinese fir forest at the early and late stages of expansion. What is the reason? Support your result by providing evidence from the literature.
5. LC:LP and LN:LP showed decreases of about 10% at stages II and IV of expansion showed the lowest ratios at 30% and 60% moso bamboo stands in mixed fir-bamboo forest. What is the reason? Support your result by providing evidence from the literature.
Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry characteristics of woodland soils at different stages of expansion towards Chinese fir forest
1. Furthermore, with the increase in the proportion of moso bamboo expansion towards Chinese fir forest, the fluctuating changes of SC showing decrease-increase-decrease-increase, however, SN showing a slightly decreasing overall trend while SP an increasing overall trend. What is the reason? Support your result by providing evidence from the literature.
2. s. Meanwhile, SC content of the mixed fir bamboo forest did not change much at the stage when the proportion of moso bamboo was less than 50%, and the minimum value of which (15.99 g kg-1) occurred when expanded to 60%, followed by the maximum value (18.36 g kg-1) when reached 80% with an increase of 14.86%; SN content was found to have a maximum value of 1.79 g kg-1 in mixed forests with 30% moso bamboo and a minimum value of 1.57 g kg-1 with 60% moso bamboo, and it was similar to the SC content showing consistent changes in mixed forest with 0% and 50% moso bamboo; SP content showed a maximum value of 0.53 g kg-1 in a mixed fir-bamboo forest with 80% moso bamboo ( stage V of expansion) and a minimum value (0.14 g kg-1) in 60% moso bamboo (stage IV of expansion), and the change from stage IV to V of moso bamboo expansion showed an increase of 267.55%. What is the reason? Support your result by providing evidence from the literature.
Conclusion
1. Please rewrite conclusion which includes highlights of your results.
2. What you recommend for future?
What are the benefits of this study?
Author Response
Dear reviewer,
Thank you very much for your careful guidance in your busy schedule. Your comments are very important for the optimization of the article and for my personal learning. I have made itemised changes in response to your comments. Please see the attachment.
Best regards,
Conghui Li
October 26, 2022
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry between leaf and soil exhibit the different expansion stages of Phyllostachys edulis into Cunninghamia lanceolata Forest
Minor changes are suggested. Also, you can find my minor edits in the enclosed attachment.
Your study is a great effort and a good presentation of the information in a concise and very approachable manner. But, I have some difficulties with unclear parts of the study.
Abstract:
Line 10. Moso need to be rewrite with capital M within all manuscript.
Line 10. Delete are add is.
Line 17. analyze the expansion behavior.
Line 18. the high
Lines 19-22. it is hard to follow. Need to make it clear.
Line 22. Should be begun
Introduction:
You need to use some recent references for this part.
Line 32. in.
Line 33. more productive
Line 34. adapt to the environment
Lines 34-37. too long sentence hard to follow
Lines 37-42. too long sentence hard to follow
Line 36. Delete “with”
Line 41. Aggravating
Lines 45-50. too long sentence hard to follow
Line 45. Add “an”
Line 45. the atomic-molecular
Line 54. In certain environments
Line 55. the Law of Definite
Line 60 delete “important add “essential”
Lines 70-72. Thereby, sample belt transects with similar changes were selected in the proportion of moso bamboo along the direction of moso bamboo expansion to Chinese fir. Each included five sample squares set up to simulate stages of moso bamboo expansion.
Material and Method
Well-organized and understandable language
Line 85. A significant forest.
Line 88. Delete “an”
Line 115. A field investigation
Line 116. which were close to
Line 118. after mixing in
Line 119. Afterward
Line 122. a five-point
Lines 136-139. need references
Line 145 and 152. The homeostasis
Results
Well-organized and understandable language, but some minor revision needs.
Line 206. the Chinese fir
Line 207. Show
Line 208. Shows
Line 210. the SC content
Line 228. which is relatively consistent with the trend
Lines 249-251. as well as P- related stoichiometric ratios and the P-related stoichiometric ratios in soil, and more significant correlations,
Line 258. a significant negative correlation
Discussion
Nice and enough for this manuscript, but need some corrections.
Line 279. Environments
Line 280-281. Exploring the
Line 283. the competitive
Line 284. The leaf,
Line 285. Ä°s
Line 298. a stronger
Line 305. The Growth Rate Hypothesis well
Line 306. the Chinese
Line 308. need more than one citations.
Line 309. and P content
Line 312. Stages
Line 315. a similar
Line 321. was lower
Line 350. “success of” and “to stand”
Line 352. Change through with by
Line 358. afterward,
Conclusion
You need to tell readers which forest type do you recommend and what do you suggest building a better forest type? You must clearly state your shortcomings in this forest
Line 393. “Significance” and delete “into”
Line 405. the regulation
Line 408. Delete “be”
Overall the manuscript is suitable after some minor changes
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Dear reviewer,
Thank you very much for your careful guidance in your busy schedule. Your comments are very important for the optimization of the article and for my personal learning. I have made itemised changes in response to your comments. Please see the attachment.
Best regards,
Conghui Li
October 26, 2022
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
