Evaluating the Impact of Climate Change and Human Activities on the Potential Distribution of Pine Wood Nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) in China
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsI have gone through the manuscript carefully titled “Predicting the Potential Distribution of Pine Wood Nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) in China under Climate Change and Human Activities”. I appreciate the authors who adeptly elucidates potential distribution of B. xylophilus using the robust statical software by applying valuable models. In this study, the MaxEnt model was used to assess the potential distribution area and dynamics of B. xylophilus in China. The study elucidates the influence of environmental factors such as temperature, precipitation, elevation and human activities that influencing the distribution of B. xylophilus.
I have highlighted the necessary corrections in the text, and also have a few suggestions for the authors to consider.
1. In my opinion, the title can be slightly modified such as “Evaluating the Impact of Climate Change and Human Activities on the Potential Distribution of Pine Wood Nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) in China” in place of Predicting the Potential Distribution of Pine Wood Nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) in China under Climate Change and Human Activities.
2. Ensure consistent terminology throughout the manuscript, especially regarding model names and variables.
3. Figure 1., Page 3: The font size of Geographical Coordinates is relatively smaller, it would be proportionally increased.
4. Figures. For the uniformity, place zero after decimal. For instance, SSP1.0-2.6 in place of SSP1-2.6. Follow the pattern in all figures.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
July 13, 2024
Reply to Reviewer #1:
Dear Reviewer,
Thank you very much for taking the time to review the manuscript carefully and for your very constructive comments. We also appreciate your clear and detailed feedback and hope the explanation adequately addresses all your questions. We have done our best to improve the manuscript and have made some changes to the manuscript. These changes do not affect the content or framework of the paper. To facilitate discussion, we have first retyped your comments in italic bold and then listed our response to each comment below. We sincerely thank the reviewers for their enthusiastic work and hope that these revisions will be acknowledged.
Thank you again for your comments and suggestions.
Comment 1: In my opinion, the title can be slightly modified such as “Evaluating the Impact of Climate Change and Human Activities on the Potential Distribution of Pine Wood Nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) in China” in place of Predicting the Potential Distribution of Pine Wood Nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) in China under Climate Change and Human Activities.
Author’s response:
Thanks for your comment. We have revised “Predicting the Potential Distribution of Pine Wood Nematode (Bursaphelenchu xylophilus) in China under Climate Change and Human Activities” to “Evaluating the Impact of Climate Change and Human Activities on the Potential Distribution of Pine Wood Nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) in China” in the title.
Your suggestions do enhance the depth of presentation of the title, making it more precise and comprehensive. The revised title emphasizes the core objective of the study, which is to assess rather than just predict. This formulation better reflects the researcher's in-depth analysis and understanding of the potential distributional impacts of climate change and human activities on pine nematodes.
Comment 2: Ensure consistent terminology throughout the manuscript, especially regarding model names and variables.
Author’s response:
Thank you for your careful review, we have double checked the terminology in the manuscript for consistency.
Comment 3: Figure 1., Page 3: The font size of Geographical Coordinates is relatively smaller, it would be proportionally increased.
Author’s response:
Thanks to your comments, we have recreated Figure 1 to make it look more complete and clearer.
Comment 4: Figures. For the uniformity, place zero after decimal. For instance, SSP1.0-2.6 in place of SSP1-2.6. Follow the pattern in all figures.
Author’s response:
Thank you for your comment. We’ve changed the details you suggested to make it look more even and aesthetically pleasing.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your time involved and this great opportunity for us to improve the manuscript. We hope you will find this revised version satisfactory.
Your Sincerely,
Ping Wang
End of Reply to Reviewer #1
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsMinor changes.
The highly interesting study proposes a predictive correlation model for the spread of PWN under 4 scenarios depending on climate change and land use. The model for all 4 scenarios has a high probability of mutual fit. Preliminary parameters of the model (31) are tested for significance and mutual correlation of factors to exclude redundancy of contributions of related parameters, and finally 13 bioclimatic factors are selected from them. An important achievement of the model is that the expansion areas of PWD in PRC in 2050 and later are outlined.
An unusual conclusion is reached about the unsuitability of factors previously used for PWD risk models in Europe, namely temperature and precipitation during the warmest season (30 days) of the year. This result should be identified as the major discovery in the Conclusions.
My question is why the authors use the threshold value P ≥ 0.172121 for the suitable habitat of PWN. It need special justification in the M&M.
Other notes:
P1 (Titel), P1 L12 (Abstract)
Bursaphelenchu
= Bursaphelenchus
L445
intermediate vector insects, Monochamus alternatus and Monochamus saltuarius
= why intermediate? Use correct term: insect vectors
L446
B. xylophilus is transmitted to new pine via the insects body surfaces or bodies
= please change the sentence (body surfaces or bodies). The daurlarvae (transmissive juveniles) are located in the Monochamus ssp. beetles under elytrae and in tracheas, they enter the insect at the pupal stage and keep there as passive dry juveniles, reviving when the insect start to feed (maturation feeding of the young imagoes on pine branches).
L448
intermediate host insects
= please use the correct terminology. Beetles are vectors, they are not hosts of nematodes!
L 403
Figure 8. …The red arrow indicates the shift direction of ecological niche for B. xylophilus under the future climate scenarios.
= Red arrows are weak, hardly visible.
Author Response
July 13, 2024
Reply to Reviewer #2:
Dear Reviewer,
Thank you very much for taking time out of your busy schedule to review the manuscript and for your very encouraging comments. We also appreciate your clear and detailed feedback and hope that the explanations have adequately addressed all of your questions. In the remainder of this letter, we will discuss each of your comments and our corresponding responses separately. To facilitate this discussion, we have retyped your comments in italicized bold and then listed our responses below.
Comment 1: My question is why the authors use the threshold value P ≥ 0.172121 for the suitable habitat of PWN. It need special justification in the M&M.
Author’s response:
Thanks to the reviewers for their questions, we were graded using the natural breaks (Jenks) method in ArcGIS Map, which is a data-driven approach that attempts to find natural groupings or breakpoints in the data that are important for understanding the ecological needs of PWN. Additionally, specifically the threshold P ≥ 0.172121 was found to be the best and truest reflection of suitable habitat for PWN. In addition, there is a lot of literature on grading using the natural breaks (Jenks) method, as described below. We hope our answer can solve your confusion.
Reference:
Zhang, X.M.; Zhou, Y.T.; Xu, T.; Zong, S.X. Impact of Climate Change on the Habitat Suitability of Monochamus saltuarius Gebler (Coleoptera; Cerambycidae) and Its Natural Enemies in China. Forests 2024, 15,33.
Zhang, Q.C.; Wang, J.G.; Lei, Y.H. Predicting Distribution of the Asian Longhorned Beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and Its Natural Enemies in China. Insects 2022, 13, 687.
Gao, R.H.; Liu, L.; Zhao, L.J.; Cui, S.P. Potentially Suitable Geographical Area for Monochamus alternatus Under Current and Future Climatic Scenarios Based on Optimized MaxEnt Model. Insects 2023, 14, 182.
Comment 2: P1 (Titel), P1 L12 (Abstract). Bursaphelenchu.= Bursaphelenchus
Author’s response:
Thank you for your careful reading, we have double-checked and changed “Bursaphelenchu” to “Bursaphelenchus” in the Abstract and Keywords.
Comment 3: L445: intermediate vector insects, Monochamus alternatus and Monochamus saltuarius. = why intermediate? Use correct term: insect vectors
Author’s response:
Thank you for your comment. We have deleted “intermediate”.
Comment 4: L446: B. xylophilus is transmitted to new pine via the insects body surfaces or bodies. = please change the sentence (body surfaces or bodies). The daurlarvae (transmissive juveniles) are located in the Monochamus ssp. beetles under elytrae and in tracheas, they enter the insect at the pupal stage and keep there as passive dry juveniles, reviving when the insect start to feed (maturation feeding of the young imagoes on pine branches).
Author’s response:
Thank you for your comments, we have rewritten writing sentences to make them more scientifically sound.
Comment 5: L448:intermediate host insects.= please use the correct terminology. Beetles are vectors, they are not hosts of nematodes!
Author’s response:
Thank you for your comment. Due to an oversight on our part that caused you reading difficulties, we have amended “intermediate host insects” to “insects vector”.
Comment 6: L 403:Figure 8. The red arrow indicates the shift direction of ecological niche for B. xylophilus under the future climate scenarios.= Red arrows are weak, hardly visible.
Author’s response:
Thank you for your comment, we have reworked Figure 8 to make it look clearer and more aesthetically pleasing.
Thank you very much for your attention. Looking forward to your reply.
Your sincerity,
Ping Wang
End of Reply to Reviewer #2
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsI am finding the article to be very well prepared; it deals with extremely important topic as B. xylophilus spreading leads to massive economic and environmental damage in affected countries.
I have only a couple of minor remarks:
Figure one: I would consider to present the map in more detailed scale, it is not very illustrative in current form.
According your results the spread of B. xylophilus could be expected to the northeast (Liaoning and Jilin) and central regions (Henan and Shandong) in the future and you are mentioning protective measures to restrict this. Are these measures already in progress or are they planned for the future? Please specify this.
I am lacking mention of the article “Gruffudd, H. R., Schröder, T., Jenkins, T. A. R., & Evans, H. F. (2019). Modelling pine wilt disease (PWD) for current and future climate scenarios as part of a pest risk analysis for pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner and Buhrer) Nickle in Germany. Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection, 126, 129-144.” in your work, please add this paper in your references and use it in Introduction or/and Discussion part.
Author Response
July 13, 2024
Reply to Reviewer #3:
Dear Reviewer,
Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to review the manuscript and for your very encouraging comments. We also appreciate your clear and detailed feedback and hope that the explanation has fully addressed all of your concerns. In the remainder of this letter, we discuss each of your comments individually along with our corresponding responses. To facilitate this discussion, we have reentered your comments in italic bold, and then listed our responses below.
Comment 1: Figure one: I would consider to present the map in more detailed scale, it is not very illustrative in current form.
Author’s response:
Thank you very much for your professional comments on our articles. We have modified the scale of Figure 1 according to the suggestions of the reviewers to make it look more detailed.
Comment 2: According your results the spread of B. xylophilus could be expected to the northeast (Liaoning and Jilin) and central regions (Henan and Shandong) in the future and you are mentioning protective measures to restrict this. Are these measures already in progress or are they planned for the future? Please specify this.
Author’s response:
Thanks for your comment. The conservation measures mentioned in this paper on limiting the spread of B. xylophilus have been implemented in China. The Chinese Government has taken a series of comprehensive conservation measures to prevent its spread and protect forest resources. On the one hand, the Chinese Government prevents the introduction and spread of B. xylophilus through strict quarantine measures and monitoring networks. This includes quarantine of imported timber and related products, as well as regular inspections of domestic pine forests so that infected trees can be detected and dealt with in a timely manner. On the other hand, the Chinese government utilizes a variety of techniques to combat B. xylophilus, including physical control, chemical control and biological control. 1. By manually cutting down and destroying infected pine trees in a timely manner, the number of hosts of B. xylophilus can be reduced, thus controlling its spread; 2. Targeting the vectors of the pine nematode, the use of specific insecticides can reduce their population, thus indirectly controlling the pine nematode; 3. By introducing or enhancing the natural enemies of B. xylophilus, such as certain predatory nematodes or insects, the population of pine wood nematodes can be controlled naturally. In addition, in practice, the Chinese government usually combines multiple control techniques to form an integrated control strategy. This involves the coordinated use of physical, chemical and biological control methods at different times and spaces to achieve optimal control results.
Comment 3: I am lacking mention of the article “Gruffudd, H. R., Schröder, T., Jenkins, T. A. R., & Evans, H. F. (2019). Modelling pine wilt disease (PWD) for current and future climate scenarios as part of a pest risk analysis for pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner and Buhrer) Nickle in Germany. Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection, 126, 129-144.” in your work, please add this paper in your references and use it in Introduction or/and Discussion part.
Author’s response:
Thanks for your comment, we have studied the article by Gruffudd et al. (2019) in depth and found that its content provides insightful insights into our study. Therefore, in the discussion section, we have deliberately introduced this literature to enhance the logic and readability of our article, making it more rigorous and coherent.
Thank you very much for your attention. Looking forward to your reply.
Your sincerity,
Ping Wang
End of Reply to Reviewer #3
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
