Habitat Filtering Covers the Strength of Density Dependence and Functional Density Dependence on Seedling Survival in Cangshan Mountain, Southwest China

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript is well written; the subtitles are coherent. Furthermore, the figures were well plotted. However, the study is fragile in terms of the results achieved due to methodological issues. This is explained in part by the authors, which is important to direct new studies.

My suggestion is that this excerpt be removed from the conclusion to give greater clarity and objectivity to the text:

"We used generalized linear mixed models to test whether individual survival was associated with density dependence, functional trait density dependence, and habitat variables."

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors present an interesting research dealing with seeding survival in broad-leaved forests. Focused in forests of Yunnan province of China, they present, based on GLMS methods, those factors that affects several ecological parameters. Their results show that parameters such density dependence and functional trait density are key to ensure seedling survival.

The experimental design is appropriated, the analysis of data is adequate and the tables and figures necessaries and well designed. The discussion and conclusions close perfectly the objectives of the study and the quality and extent of the bibliography, adequate.

Under my opinion, the ms would be ready to switch a paper for Forests but I’ll suggest a couple of minor details in order to improve it.

First, the title. For me is a little bit confusing. I’ll suggest shorten this in order to be more concise.

Second, the figure 1. Maybe is not necessary to add the grid. In fact, this aspect is well explained in the text. Then I’ll add a small map of China, with Yunnan province highlighted and a point there to mark Cangshan Mountain.

Well this is all, I’ve enjoyed reading your research.

 

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This is an article on the topic of seedling survival in wet evergreen broad-leaved forests. It discusses the role of density dependence, functional trait density dependence, and habitat filtering in regulating seedling survival.

 

The introduction provides a reasonable amount of background information on the topic of density dependence, functional traits, and habitat filtering in seedling survival. It mentions key concepts and theories related to species coexistence and community dynamics, such as conspecific negative density dependence (CNDD) and phylogenetic negative density dependence (PNDD). It also refers to previous studies that have explored these mechanisms.

 

The methods provided in the text offer a general understanding of the study design and some aspects of the data collection and analysis. The text mentions the establishment of three 0.09-hectare plots on Cangshan Mountain in China and the monitoring of 546 woody plant seedlings over three censuses. It also mentions the use of generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) for analyzing the data and the incorporation of random effects for seedling quadrats and species identity.

 

The presentation of results is reasonably clear, while the conclusions are supported by the results, acknowledging the limitations and potential sources of uncertainty in the findings.

 

There are a few grammatical and stylistic errors that indicate the need for some English editing. For example, the phrase:

 

“The heterospecific seedling density coefficients were smaller in Models I and III (without habitat variables) than in Models II and IV (with habitat variables) in plots A and C”

 

could be rewritten as:

 

"In plots A and C, the coefficients for heterospecific seedling density were smaller in Models I and III (without habitat variables) compared to Models I and IV (with habitat variables)."

 

The phrase:

 

“Although the effects of habitat variables on seedling survival were not significant in 340 our study…”

 

could be rewritten as:

 

“While the effects of habitat variables on seedling survival did not reach significance in any of the three plots…"

 

An English editor could help polish the text and make it more coherent.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

There are a few grammatical and stylistic errors that indicate the need for some English editing.

An English editor could help polish the text and make it more coherent.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf