Decomposition and Variation in Carbon and Nitrogen of Leaf Litter Mixtures in a Subtropical Mangrove Forest
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report (Previous Reviewer 2)
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript has undergone a satisfactory revision process and has been significantly improved.
Author Response
We appreciate you very much for your positive comments on our manuscript.
Reviewer 2 Report (New Reviewer)
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe reviewed work concerns determining leaf decomposition rates of K. obovata and A. marina, building species of mangrove ecosystems. The work was simple and done relatively correctly, and the expected results were achieved. The work fits within the scope and issues of the journal. My comments are below.
1. The paper's title is confusing and difficult to understand, so it should be informative rather than descriptive.
2. the abstract should be elaborated in 2 sentences as an introduction and clearly emphasise the paper's objectives.
3. I propose to expand the introduction with other authors' works.
4. figure 1 is not legible, and the map scale is missing. I suggest adding some photographs of a landscape nature to bring the reader closer to what mangrove ecosystems look like (not everyone needs to know ).
5. How were the carbon and nitrogen dynamics determined?
6 Figures 2,3,4,5 illegible, and the title should be changed.
7. Instead of a descriptive name, give all cloud symbols C and N.
8. for plant names, the author of the species should be added once at the beginning.
9. the discussion references other works poorly, but this section is better than the others.
10) Suggest giving the conclusions in the points, at present, this has the character of a summary of the research results rather than the substance.
Author Response
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Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report (New Reviewer)
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript Forest litter decomposition rates and nitrogen and carbon dynamics during the decomposition of mixed mangrove litter of the Jiulong River Estuary, Fujian by Wang et al. aims to explore the interaction effect during the decomposition process of mixed Kandelia obovata and Avicennia marina litter is a well-organized manuscript.
However, the authors need to highlight the novelty of their study in the conclusions. Relevant, very related studies (19, 21, 22) are not used to draft the discussion. This needs to be included, especially to support the affirmations related to microbial and fauna activity, considering that this study does not include these parameters. On the other hand, this study includes the C and N dynamics that other studies do not include. The last needs to be highlighted.
Some minor issues can improve the manuscript.
L98 The authors can add the importance of using a fine mesh for the nylon litter bag.
L57 – add reference 22, which is a study in the field.
Figure 1 panel 3- Add coordinates to the map. And, add some marks to the point where the bags were placed.
Figures 2 and 4– I will strongly suggest using colours in the figures to identify the treatments easily.
L259 – check the term autumn eggplant. Did the authors mean Kandelia obovate?
L286 Check fonts in this paragraph.
L320 and 32a - Replace ";" for "."
L339 – Replace “law” for “pattern”
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 4 Report (New Reviewer)
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe authors have done a practical research work that can help to understand the role of organic matter decomposition in mangroves; however, they should include information on water quality at different times of the year in the mangroves.
The work is interesting, and I include some comments in the letter, noting that there are hints in the discussion section.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 5 Report (New Reviewer)
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript by Yi Wang present interesting information about decomposition of litter of Kandelia obovata and Avicennia marina observed in the Jiulong River Estuary, Fujian. Design of the experiment seems to be good. But some statistical analysis seem to be doubtful.
Major comments:
I suggest shortening the title of the manuscript and reconsidering key words (they are too simple).
It is necessary to provide results of tests for normality. Otherwise, use Spearman correlation and a Mann-Whitney U-test.
I suppose that citations and references are in a not appropriate manner that is accepted in Forests.
Specific comments:
L.28-37. Please, reduce.
L.214-215. What a percent for?
Figure 3. Please, merge to one plot.
Section 3.3 and 3.4. Please, shorten and merge.
L.248, 258 ‘shows that organic carbon residue also showed’
Figures 4 and 5 can be combined as they have very similar captions.
L.305-306. Please, delete.
L.324 effect; When
L373-377 transfer to Conclusion.
L.427 ‘12(1) ‘ Pages?
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
This manuscript is a resubmission of an earlier submission. The following is a list of the peer review reports and author responses from that submission.
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis manuscript is devoted to a poor-known object of research: functioning of mangrove ecosystems, i.g. process of forest litter decomposion. Therefore it an be interesting for wide ascientific audience and can be published after revising.
Title: “Forest litter decomposition rates and nutrient dynamics during the decomposition of in mixed mangrove litter of the Jiulong River Estuary, Fujian” would be better
Introduction.
No word on the state of the art on mangrove litter dynamics research though the References have many works on the subject.
The MS uses the classical Olson’s function on soil organic matter decomposition but there is no word on existing approaches in soil organic matter modeling, and especially on functions describing decomposition in mangrove soils.
The aim of this study has been described very amorphous.
Material and methods.
There is no description of research site vegetation (not only dominated tree species), water salinity and other chemical properties, tidal regime, soil name and soil profile (minimally).
L. 99 “Formula calculation” – it looks strange, please rewrite this title.
L. 101. There is no Olson’s article in the References.
L. 109 What means “litter quality” in the eq.2 ? - quantity, mass, weight, pool, stock?
L. 113 “Origin 2023b and SPSS 24.0”- please add source of these packages in the References.
Results
The main drawback of this section is an absence of statistically proven differences between summer and winter patterns of leaves litter decomposition.
In the text and on Figs 2, 4 and 5, there is methodological error for usage word “rate” (as per sent). “Rate” shall be used only for process, flow, variable with dimension including time unit (for example, g[C] month-1, ml sec-1, etc). It is “k” rate variable in Olson’s equation.
L.164 Table 1 Time unit in equations is not defined (day?).
L.175 and in the text lower. “Expected and observed…” Calculated and observed…” is beter.
Discussion
It should be accentuated what is a novelty of this results in comparison with existing data but it is absent in the text.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsLeaf litter constitutes a major fraction of total litter production in mangrove forests. The cycling of carbon and nitrogen is a significant characteristic of mangrove forests, which are closely linked to the composition, functioning, and capacity of these forests to adapt to climate change. This study provides valuable information about the decomposition rates and carbon and nitrogen dynamics of a mixed mangrove litter. The manuscript is comprehensive and well written. Some minor changes are recommended:
1. The title may be changed to “Decomposition rates and nitrogen and carbon dynamics of mixed mangrove litter in the Jiulong River Estuary, Fujian.”
2. Lines 84-86. Please use a table describing the treatments with their respective symbols or codes.
3. Line 95-97. Please add relative references for the methods of determination of total nitrogen and organic carbon.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsDear authors,
Your manuscript needs to be additionally corrected.
First error is in the Title: “….the decomposition
of in mixed mangrove litter… “ remove please “in”
Then: Please change in the whole text Chinese notes by numbers in References.
L 62 add please Olson’s work citing
Table 1: “Weight (g)” weight of sample?
L. 118. “2.3 Parameter calculation” may be Parameters’ calculation ?
L. 125 “Weight remaining calculated value” ! better Calculated remaining weight
L. 126 eq.2 why physical components of weight loss expressed in per cent (%) - %%to what parameter? Please find publications on soil models Century, RothC, DNDC or any other from many of recent soil organic matter models to understand approaches and format of equations in mathematical models
L 144. 3.1. “Weight remaining ratio of mixed litter decomposition” - correct please. Here and below: ratio to what?
L 154 Fig 2 legend. Simply “Remaining weight” instead “Weight remaining ratios…”
L 202 Table 2 title: (a) add R “….model decomposition coefficients, R, …”
(b) head of column 3: change by “Coefficient, day-1 “ that means “time unit in degree (in power) minus one (-1)! That is a part of unity (not percent!) being changed for 1 day.
Fig 4: Remove please word “ratio” from vertical axises and legend.
NB: In the text below word “ratio” mostly used for “weight, mass, pool, stock". Check it again.
Sincerely
The subject Editor
Comments on the Quality of English Language
To be honest, the English language is rusty and needs stylistic editing.
Author Response
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