Dynamic Role and Importance of Multi-Kingdom Communities in Mediterranean Wood-Pastures
, Susana S. Santos 3, Evdokia Krystallidou 4, Styliani Kakara 2 and Konstantinos Mantzanas 5Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The theme presented in the article “Dynamic Role and Importance of multi-kingdom communities in Mediterranean Wood-Pastures” is not new, just look at the “montado” agro-silvo-pastoral system, also known in Spain as “dehesa”. At this level, as a review article I miss a lot of information that the authors seem to have ignored. However, the relationship of ecosystem services in these forest environments is of great relevance to the scientific community and therefore, I can accept this article for publication in Sustainability, by improving several aspects.
The grazing systems in forests (open or closed) in the Mediterranean have several centuries of existence, being one of the main land exploitation systems in much of the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula.
As a scientific article, I think that Figure 1 does not add value to the document. Colored words, slanted and facing upwards, over a photograph that shows three distinct ecological situations is not appropriate for this work. Instead, authors can insert an image that demonstrates some area of study or conditions they refer to related to grazing in a forest environment or related to ecosystem services.
Line 98. This information is not required. The quality of the research is seen in the presentation of a relevant bibliography, made up of reference authors and with up-to-date information.
Line 139. The reduced information (with only 9 lines) presented in topic 3.3 Mediterranean climate, does not justify the creation of an individual subtopic. Perhaps a biophysical characterization could add more information and join with topic 3.2. Mediterranean basin.
Line 340. Currently Quercus ilex has been separated into Q. ilex from the temperate world and Q. rotundifolia which lives in the south and west of the Iberian Peninsula.
Line 477. Requires context and at least one reference!
Line 481. What is the scientific name of the species? Common names are often the same for different taxa, so authors should enlighten the reader.
Line 618. Yes, this statement is true. There is a lot of information published on this matter. Therefore, the phrase must be improved, as it does not add anything new to current knowledge.
In the topic of Conclusion the authors can consider the management information available, especially “Livro Verde dos Montados”: http://hdl.handle.net/10174/10116
To help improve the information gaps presented in the article, I leave some key references to improve the quality of the article:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-013-0688-z
https://doi.org/10.3390/fire3040065
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9091181
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2018.01.017
Author Response
"Please see the attachment"
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The article carries out a review of the literature on the aspect Dynamic Role and Importance of multi-kingdom communities in Mediterranean Wood-Pastures.
This topic is very useful and relevant in the scientific field. I consider that the article is well written and structured.
However, I consider that the article can be improved in the following aspects:
-Methodology section: describe in greater depth, highlighting which articles have been selected.
-I could incorporate articles that address the issue of economic valuation of biodiversity such as, among others:
Bernues, A., Rodríguez-Ortega, T., Ripoll-Bosch, R., & Alfnes, F. (2014). Socio-cultural and economic valuation of ecosystem services provided by Mediterranean mountain agroecosystems. PloS one, 9(7), e102479.
Crespo-Cebada, E., Díaz-Caro, C., Robina-Ramírez, R., & Sánchez-Hernández, M. I. (2020). Is Biodiversity a Relevant Attribute for Assessing Natural Parks? Evidence from Cornalvo Natural Park in Spain. Forests, 11(4), 410.
La Notte, A., Liquete, C., Grizzetti, B., Maes, J., Egoh, B. N., & Paracchini, M. L. (2015). An ecological-economic approach to the valuation of ecosystem services to support biodiversity policy. A case study for nitrogen retention by Mediterranean rivers and lakes. Ecological Indicators, 48, 292-302.
Sakagami, M., & Sakaguchi, D. (2018). Estimating preferences for wood products with environmental attributes. Forests, 9(1), 41.
-Could also make a summary table grouping and highlighting the most relevant contributions.
-The conclusions could establish the main limitations of the article. In addition, it could also establish future lines of research that are open or pending after the review carried out.
Author Response
"Please see the attachment"
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The authors accepted all proposals for improvement and adequately clarified all the questions raised. However, the introduction of a photograph raises some doubts between the concept of a mediterranean and temperate climate. In the text they define very well that the Mediterranean climate is characterized by a period of summer dryness, however, several aspects lead the reader to interpret photography as belonging to temperate Europe. Alternatively, authors can add a thermopluviometric graphic over the area.
I would like to know the location where the photograph shown in figure 1 was taken (line 124). What is the dominant tree in the landscape?
I have some doubts that it is a Mediterranean climate. To help clarify this issue, the authors can consult the "Worldwide bioclimatic classification system" (DOI: 10.5616/gg110001).
Author Response
"Please see the attachment."
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
I consider that the review has been carried out following the proposed recommendations. The article is ready to be published.
Author Response
We thank the reviewer for their valuable comments, which have improved our manuscript substantially.
Best regards
The authors
