Effects of a Short-Term Trampling Experiment on Alpine Vegetation in the Tatras, Slovakia

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear authors,

This manuscript constitutes an interesting and well performed study concerning the effects of short-term trampling experiment on three alpine plant communities in Tatras, Slovakia, within the National Nature Reserve  Belianske Tatry  and outside on the border with the High Tatras, the most visited part of the Tatras and the highest part 87 of the Carpathians. Such work can be of great importance for conservation managers. The overall idea is interesting, and the methodology is well described. The manuscript, in general, is clear, well-structured, and well written as also the results, Discussion and Conclusions. I propose that Tables 2 and 3 could be joint in one.  Additionally, references concerning tourism on mountainous protected areas as also animal trampling in alpine areas as those following, could be added. For these reasons, I recommend a revision of the manuscript.

 

 

Hiltbrunner, D., Schulze, S.,  Hagedorn, F., Schmidt, M.W.I., Zimmmermann, S. (2012) Cattle trampling alters soil properties and changes soil microbial communities in a Swiss sub-alpine pasture. Geoderma, 170: 369-377

 

 

Arnberger, A., Eder, R.,  Allex, B., Sterl, P., Burns, R.C. (2012) Relationships between national-park affinity and attitudes towards protected area management of visitors to the Gesaeuse National Park, Austria. Forest Policy and Economics, 19: 48-55.

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 1 Comments

Comments for Authors: This manuscript constitutes an interesting and well performed study concerning the effects of short-term trampling experiment on three alpine plant communities in Tatras, Slovakia, within the National Nature Reserve  Belianske Tatry  and outside on the border with the High Tatras, the most visited part of the Tatras and the highest part 87 of the Carpathians. Such work can be of great importance for conservation managers. The overall idea is interesting, and the methodology is well described. The manuscript, in general, is clear, well-structured, and well written as also the results, Discussion and Conclusions. I propose that Tables 2 and 3 could be joint in one.  Additionally, references concerning tourism on mountainous protected areas as also animal trampling in alpine areas as those following, could be added. For these reasons, I recommend a revision of the manuscript.

Hiltbrunner, D., Schulze, S.,  Hagedorn, F., Schmidt, M.W.I., Zimmmermann, S. (2012) Cattle trampling alters soil properties and changes soil microbial communities in a Swiss sub-alpine pasture. Geoderma, 170: 369-377

Arnberger, A., Eder, R.,  Allex, B., Sterl, P., Burns, R.C. (2012) Relationships between national-park affinity and attitudes towards protected area management of visitors to the Gesaeuse National Park, Austria. Forest Policy and Economics, 19: 48-55.

Response:

Dear reviewer, thank you very much for your comments.

 

We have merged the Tables 2 and 3 into one: Table 2;

Section Results (Relative cover of communities): L 324 - 335.

 

We added new references (including recommended references) concerning tourism on mountainous protected areas as also animal trampling in alpine areas.

Section Discussion: L 463, 464; L 468, 469.

Section References: numbers 75 – 78 and 80; L 644 – 652; L 655 – 657.

 

English language correction: L 2, 3, 11, 12, 18, 28, 35, 39, 40, 43, 47, 53, 58, 66, 84, 85, 93, 100, 121, 127, 136, 144, 146, 176, 179, 209, 210, 253, 265, 266, 280, 288, 289, 291, 295, 297, 304, 306, 307, 309, 336-340, 344, 346, 348-351, 365-368, 385, 386, 396-398, 401, 407, 409, 411, 415, 416, 418, 429, 431, 433, 434, 436, 437, 441, 442, 445, 448-450, 454, 474, 476, 481-484, 491.

Reviewer 2 Report

The article presents interesting and useful research on the treading of plant communities by tourists on tourist routes, based on the example of the Bielansky Tatras. Considering the growing popularity of hiking trails in the Tatra Mountains, both on the Slovak and, above all, the Polish side, it is necessary to manage the routes in such a way as to minimize the degradation of the natural environment. The obtained test results can help in this.
I suggest the authors attach a sketchy map of the research area. In an introduction reviewing similar studies, it is worth citing the research on trampling calcareus grasslands, reported in the journal Sustainabiliy. The Effect of Visitors on the Properties of Vegetation of Calcareous Grasslands in the Context of Width and Distances from Tourist Trails, January 2020, Sustainability 12 (2), DOI: 10.3390 / su12020454

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 2 Comments

Comments for Authors: The article presents interesting and useful research on the treading of plant communities by tourists on tourist routes, based on the example of the Bielansky Tatras. Considering the growing popularity of hiking trails in the Tatra Mountains, both on the Slovak and, above all, the Polish side, it is necessary to manage the routes in such a way as to minimize the degradation of the natural environment. The obtained test results can help in this. I suggest the authors attach a sketchy map of the research area. In an introduction reviewing similar studies, it is worth citing the research on trampling calcareus grasslands, reported in the journal Sustainabiliy. The Effect of Visitors on the Properties of Vegetation of Calcareous Grasslands in the Context of Width and Distances from Tourist Trails, January 2020, Sustainability 12 (2), DOI: 10.3390 / su12020454

Response:

Dear reviewer, thank you very much for your comments.

We added a sketchy map of the research area (Figure 1): L 111 – 114 (in the section Materials and Methods, Study area).

In the sections Introduction and References, we added the reference „The Effect of Visitors on the Properties of Vegetation of Calcareous Grasslands in the Context of Width and Distances from Tourist Trails“

Section Introduction: L 58

Section References: number 41; L 581 – 583.

 

English language correction: L 2, 3, 11, 12, 18, 28, 35, 39, 40, 43, 47, 53, 58, 66, 84, 85, 93, 100, 121, 127, 136, 144, 146, 176, 179, 209, 210, 253, 265, 266, 280, 288, 289, 291, 295, 297, 304, 306, 307, 309, 336-340, 344, 346, 348-351, 365-368, 385, 386, 396-398, 401, 407, 409, 411, 415, 416, 418, 429, 431, 433, 434, 436, 437, 441, 442, 445, 448-450, 454, 474, 476, 481-484, 491.

Reviewer 3 Report

I feel that the topic of the paper is interesting. But there are some points to be developed.

1. Map would be helpful to understand the study area. And please, explain the reason the author set study area in detail.
2. Research Process would be helpful to understand the methodology.
3. I feel that there are many graphs and tables. Please show key point. Unifying or summarizing would be recommended.
4. Figures are too rough. Please change them into the images with high quality and design.
5. Overall formatting is needed.

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 3 Comments

Comments for Authors: I feel that the topic of the paper is interesting. But there are some points to be developed.

1. Map would be helpful to understand the study area. And please, explain the reason the author set study area in detail.
2. Research Process would be helpful to understand the methodology.
3. I feel that there are many graphs and tables. Please show key point. Unifying or summarizing would be recommended.
4. Figures are too rough. Please change them into the images with high quality and design.
5. Overall formatting is needed.

 

Response:

Dear reviewer, thank you very much for your comments.

 

Point 1.

We added a sketchy map of the research area: L 111 – 114 (in the section Materials and Methods, Study area).

In the sections Introduction, we are explaining the reason for choosing the study area in details:
L 65 – 78.

 

Point 2.

An understanding of the research process is necessary to effectively carry out research and sequencing of the stages inherent in the process. These 8 stages in the research process are;

1. Identifying the problem.
2. Reviewing literature.
3. Setting research questions, objectives, and hypotheses.
4. Choosing the study design.
5. Deciding on the sample design.
6. Collecting data.
7. Processing and analyzing data.
8. Writing the report.

The research process is completed.

 

Point 3.

In the section Results, Figures 5 and 6 are merged into one: Figure 6 L 310 – 315; 353 – 358.

In the section Results, Tables 2 and 3 are merged into one: Table 2 L 324 – 335.

 

Point 4.

In the section Results, we used the Table option of Microsoft Word to create tables and graphs (point 3).

In the section Results, Figure 5 is changed (we used the Table option of Microsoft Word to create graphs): L 277 – 283.

All Figures meet the requirerements of a sufficiently high resolution (minimum 1000 pixels width/height).

 

Point 5.

Overall formating is done: L 151, 172, 189, 243, 279 – 283, 300 – 302, 316 – 318, 325, 326.

 

English language correction: L 2, 3, 11, 12, 18, 28, 35, 39, 40, 43, 47, 53, 58, 66, 84, 85, 93, 100, 121, 127, 136, 144, 146, 176, 179, 209, 210, 253, 265, 266, 280, 288, 289, 291, 295, 297, 304, 306, 307, 309, 336-340, 344, 346, 348-351, 365-368, 385, 386, 396-398, 401, 407, 409, 411, 415, 416, 418, 429, 431, 433, 434, 436, 437, 441, 442, 445, 448-450, 454, 474, 476, 481-484, 491.

 

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

The paper is improved a lot. But there are still some points to be revised.

1. Map should show the location of study area from world level.
2. Please show more explanation in figures. Especially figure 3 and 7 should be revised.

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 3 Comments (Round 2)

Comments for Authors: The paper is improved a lot. But there are still some points to be revised.

1. Map should show the location of study area from world level.
2. Please show more explanation in figures. Especially figure 3 and 7 should be revised.

 

Response: Dear reviewer, thank you very much for your comments.

Point 1.

Figure 1 shows the location of study area from world level: L 111 – 114.

Point 2.

We added explanations to the figures:

Figure 1: L  112

Figure 3: L 169

Figure 7: L 362 – 366