Lantana camara: Poisonous Species and a Potential Browse Species for Goats in Southern Africa—A Review

Comment

Response

This study assessed whether the invasive Lantana camara is potential fodder for goats or poisonous. Overall, the manuscript is good but can be improved after addressing the comments below. The work that is presented can help resource-poor goat farmers who experience fodder scarcity, especially in semi-arid areas.

Thanks for the positive appraisal of our work.

The authors still need to discuss the implications of this on the management of L. camara. They must read the following paper, Zengeya, T., Ivey, P., Woodford, D.J., Weyl, O., Novoa, A., Shackleton, R. et al. 2017, ‘Managing conflict-generating invasive species in South Africa: Challenges and trade-offs’, Bothalia 47(2), a2160. https://doi.

Thanks. We have now included the

subheading number 4 in the revised version

of the manuscript. We also cited the recommended article

‘Impact of L. camara on new environment’

However we stand ready to make further

changes should these be required.

Line 15: ‘…environment, and it…’. Put a full stop after the ‘environment’.

Thanks for your suggestion, we have now put the full stop.

Lines 15 – 17: ‘and it 15 is regarded in the tropical, subtropical and globally as one of the most ecologically and economically destructive invasive alien plants.’ Rephrase this sentence as follows: Globally, L. camara is regarded as one of the most ecologically and economically destructive invasive alien plants.

Thank you for your suggestion, we have now rephrased the sentence and it now reads as follows:  Globally, L. camara is regarded as one of the most ecologically and economically destructive invasive alien plants.

Lines 17 – 18: ‘ The spread of Lantana camara does not only affect the environment, but it also threatens the productivity of livestock due to its toxicity to animals in most semi-arid areas of South Africa.’ Rewrite this sentence as follows: The spread of L. camara affects the environment and threatens livestock productivity due to its toxicity to animals (especially cattle and sheep) in most semi-arid areas of South Africa.

Thank you for your suggestion, we have now rephrased the sentence.

Lines 18 – 19: ‘ Lantana camara is known to have high concentrations…’ start the sentence with ‘However’

Thanks for your comments, we have now included the word “However” at the beginning of the sentence.

Lines 19 – 20: Delete ‘as well as anti-nutritional 19 factors that may be toxic to animals especially sheep and cattle.’

Thank for your advice, we have now deleted as well as anti-nutritional 19 factors that may be toxic to animals especially sheep and cattle.’

Lines 22 – 24: ‘This review is evaluating whether L camara is a potential browse species for goats or poisonous species in Southern Africa.’ Rewrite this sentence as follows: This review evaluates whether L. camara is a potential browse or poisonous species for goats in southern Africa

Thanks, the sentence have been now rephrased.

Lines 24 – 27: there are so many focus areas. The last one is the special focus. I am now confused. Consolidate these sentences into one sentence.

Thanks, the statement have been revised and rephrased.

General comments:

What were the significant findings in your study? You need to include this in the abstract.

Your conclusion should indicate whether you advocate for using L. camara to feed goats.

Thanks for the input.

The high crude protein and low fibre and its low toxicity in goats makes L. camara a potential protein supplement for goats in semi-arid areas

The conclusion was revised and the value of L. camara as a potential protein source was highlighted.

However we stand ready to make further changes should these be required

Line 46: ‘L. camara has been…’. At the beginning of a sentence, scientific names should be written in full. Effect this change where necessary.

Thank you and noted.

Line 63: ‘inconsistency, this’. Add ‘and’ before this.

Thanks for your comment, the sentence now reads as follows: To add to the fold, in instances of abundance of low quality feed, it is of paramount importance to correct that inconsistency through supplementation of the main available fodder with a certain quantity of concentrates.

Line 66: delete ‘s’ in ‘excludes’.

Thanks for noting

Lines 66 – 67: ‘As a result, the need to heed the call for more alternative affordable sources of protein.’ The way this sentence reads it is incomplete.

Thanks for your comment, we have now rephrased the sentence. The sentence reads as follows: As result, there’s a need to heed for more alternative available sources of protein for livestock.

Line 75: delete ‘L. camara leaves’.

Thanks for noting, we have now deleted ‘L. camara leaves’ on the sentence.

Lines 78 – 79: There is rough fur covering the leaves and stems.’. This sentence should come before the flower description

Thanks for noting, we have now moved the sentence to the correct place as recommended.   

Lines 104 – 105: ‘Lantana, invade where it forms dense stands that block entry and use.’. Rewrite this part as a separate sentence. As it stands, it doesn’t make sense

Thanks, we have rephrased the sentence. The sentence now reads as follows: Lantana camara invades such as rivers banks, mountain slopes as valleys, pastures and commercial forests where it forms dense stands that block entry and use of the areas

Line 106: ‘characteristics that define’. What are those characteristics?

Thanks for your comment, we have now included the characteristics that define invasive species. The sentence reads as follows: Lantana camara has a variety of invasive characteristics which cover its life span such as fast growth, rapid reproduction, high dispersal ability and ecological competence.

However we stand ready to make further changes should these be required

Lines 109 – 111: ‘Lantadenes are pentacyclic triterpenes that sometimes contribute to hepatotoxicity and jaundice, as well as photosensitization’. This sentence just appeared out of the blue. There is a lack of transition from the preceding sentence to this one. Ensure that there is transition.

Thanks for noting, we revised the statements to make the whole paragraph flow

Line 112: ‘strains’. What are you referring to here?

We have now removed the word strains as it does not make sense.

Line 118: ‘L. camera’. Spelling mistake.

Thanks for noting, we have now corrected the spelling

Line 123: ‘studies investigating its nutritional..’. Make it a separate sentence starting with ‘However’.

Thank you for your suggestion, we have now corrected the sentences.

Lines 129 – 130: ‘under the impact of climate change..’. This statement is not adding any value; remove it.

We have now removed the statement.

Line 136: ‘The most widely distributed species of the Verbenaceae family is the L. camara.’. Widely distributed where?

In avoiding repetition, L. camara widely distribution was already mentioned in the introduction.

Lines 136 – 141: ‘Lantana camara is popularly referred to as wild or red sage and is recognized as both a weed and a prominent exotic fruit plant [26]. Negi et al. [27] further indicate that the plant is a weed that has infested massive sections of grasslands, orchards, as well as forest areas throughout several tropical as well as temperate areas limiting the availability of livestock feed on the veld. The first sentence belongs to the plant description section; move it. The information in the second sentence is a repetition, delete

Thanks for noting, we have now moved the first sentence to plant description section and deleted the second sentence.

Line 142: ‘also climate change’. Remove this part or show a link between feed scarcity and climate change

Thanks for the comment, the sentence has been deleted completely due to repetition

Line 144: put a comma before ‘but’ and delete a comma after ‘but’

Thanks, we have now corrected the sentence

Line 145: dogs are not browsers; remove ‘dogs’

Thank you, we have now removed the word “dogs”

Line 145: besides what?

We have replaced the word “besides” with “Moreover”

Lines 190 – 192: ‘However, there is a paucity of literature on the use of L. camara as an alternative feed, therefore there is a need to evaluate the potential of L. camara as an alternative to browsing livestock.’. You need to be careful here, under the toxicity section, you showed that L. camara is toxic to sheep, cattle and horses. Therefore, there is only a need to evaluate L. camara toxicity in goats

Thanks, we have now corrected the sentence. It reads as follows: However, there is a paucity of literature on the use of L. camara as an alternative feed, therefore, there is a need to evaluate L. camara toxicity in goats through introduction of incremental levels of L. camara in goats’ diets.

Lines 201 – 205: ‘Finding by Mtui [24], indicate the 201 the CP levels of L. Camara varieties, which are abundant in semi-arid rangelands, will fu-202 ther form a possible feedstuff resource primarily as a protein supplement to ruminant 203 livestock, addressing nitrogen deficiencies prevalent in most basal roughages, particularly 204 during the dry winter season when CP values ranges between 30- 70g/kg.’. This sentence is too long, break it into two sentences.

Thanks for the suggestive, we have now broke the sentence into two sentences. They now read as follows: Finding by Mtui [37], indicated that the high CP levels of L. camara varieties, which are abundant in semi-arid rangelands, further highlighted L. camara’s potential contribution as an important protein supplement to natural grass pastures. Moreover, this species will address nitrogen deficiencies prevalent in most basal roughages, particularly during the dry winter season when CP values ranges between 30- 70g/kg.

Line 208: put a comma after CP.

Thanks, we have now put the comma after CP.

Lines 212 – 214: ‘Therefore, according to Wickersham et al. [49] raw, L. camara leaves have high CP content which is way more than the minimum 6% needed for livestock production and may be utilized as an alternative protein source.’. Rewrite this sentence as follows: Raw, L. camara leaves have high CP content, which is way more than the minimum 6% needed for livestock production; therefore, they may be utilized as an alternative protein source [49].

Thanks for the suggestion, the sentence has been rephrased. 

Line 218: Lantana camara should be in Italics.

Thanks for noting, the word has been written in italics

Line 223: ‘it was found the..’ insert ‘that’ between ‘found’and ‘the’.

Thanks for your comment. We have now inserted ‘that’ between ‘found’and ‘the’

Lines 238 – 239: ‘goats, and cows, fed the leaves need to be supplemented with these minerals for ideal productivity.’. Write it as a separate sentence.

Thanks, the sentence have been separated.

Line 239: ‘Table 2 shows the chemical composition of L. camara’. Is this the composition in the plant biomass?

Thank you for your comment, we have now specified which plant parts were used.

Line 270: How many decades?

Thanks for your comment, we have now included the number of decades (3 decades) in the sentence.

The section on Management/control lacks a conclusion on management strategies that should be prioritised.

Thanks we have now included goats as the means to complement the already introduced biological, mechanical and chemical methods.

Lines 268 – 269: Why is biological control perceived to be an ideal control solution compared to chemical and mechanical?

Thanks, we have now indicated, why biological control is an ideal control solution. The sentence reads as follows. According to Urban et [10], of all the control measures, biological control is perceived to be an ideal solution since it is cheap and environmental friendly. Moreover, we have also added the utilization of goats in complementing the other methods available.  

Lines 289 – 290: ‘In order to control the L. camara, the contribution of species to the ecosystem might be a key.’. What do you mean?

The sentence has been now revised, it reads as follows: In order to control L. camara, the contribution of this species to goats nutrition must be known. 

Lines 290 – 291: ‘The application of biological control such as the use of livestock like goats which are resistance to the plant species can be introduced.’. After reading this statement, your assumption is that in areas where goats browse L. camara they cause significant damage that reduce plant vigour. Is this the case? What makes you think that your proposed strategy will be effective? Are you going to mass-rear and release a lot of goats in L. camara infested areas?

Thanks for the input we have now revised the statement and included the other control methods available.

However we stand ready to make further changes if statement requires modification.

The manuscript is proposed as a review on the alien species Lantana camara, however the research that is described as focused on the description and distribution of the species, toxicity and its impact to the environment, together with usefulness of it to the ecosystem looking at the feeding value of the plant species, then appears much more limited than stated.

I would suggest improving the search for relevant articles on the topic, in particular going to improve section 2 and 3 and possibly adding one section about all types of impacts the plant may have in the new range. In addition, I would recommend improving the section “Summary of the review” by treating it as if it were the conclusions. So, try to recap what has been said so far and to explain the importance of your work.

Also, from reading the entire article it is not clear if this species may or may not be an animal feed since it is also mentioned that it is poisonous to many animals. Finally, if the species can be an alternative to other animal feed, would there be the idea of planting the alien species and spreading it even more as an alternative feed?

Thanks for the inputs:

We have now added the statements to add value on section 2 and 3.

We have now included the subheading number 4 in the revised version of the manuscript ‘Impact of L. camara on a new environment’ 

We have now beefed up the conclusion section by emphasizing that there is a need to control the spread of species through utilizing the all methods available such as chemical, mechanical and biological methods.

Title: camara, without capital c.

Thanks, we have now corrected.

L23 and L25 please add a point “L. camara”

Thanks for noting, we have now added a point.

L34 and L 252 use IAPS or IAP not both

Thanks for your suggestion, we have now

decided to write full words

L71 do not repeat the name of the species every time, L. camara is just fine.

Thank you for your comment.

LL89-92 “Documentation indicates that the L. camara was established in South Africa by 1858, in Cape Town, Western Cape Province (WC), where it rarely spread under Mediterranean climate conditions, and also documented in 1883 in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province (KZN) [10]”.

It is not clear. Who did report L. camara introduction in 1858? Is there any word on how it got there? (e.g., ornamental species, botanic gardens, trade, etc.)

Thanks for your comment, we have now indicated in the manuscript.

LL97-98 “In the last two decades, 30 potential biological control agents have been assessed  and  seven  appropriate  for  release  to  South  Africa  have  been  identified”.

Here the potential biological control are 30, later in the text 26. Which one is correct?

Thanks for noting, there was a mistake, we have now corrected it, 30 biological control were for Africa while 26 were for South Africa.

LL105-106 L. camara has a variety of characteristics that define it as an invader throughout its life span.

Provide some examples please

Thanks for your comment, we have now included the characteristics that define invasive species. The sentence reads as follows: Lantana camara has a variety of invasive characteristics which cover its life span such as fast growth, rapid reproduction, high dispersal ability and ecological competence.

LL109-112 Invert sentences or better introduce lantadenes and where they can be found

Thank you for comment, we have rephrased the sentences.

L118 L. camara in Italic

Thanks for noting, we fixed it.

LL130-133 Move it to section 1, where you described the review’s aims.

Thanks we have now moved it.

LL 136-138 Already said. Move this part to plant description or delete it.

Thanks for your suggestion, we have now moved it to the plant description section.

LL141-142 “Animal feed is becoming increasingly expensive as a result of protein source constraints and also climate change”.

This sentence is repeated in L 195

Thanks for noting, we have now deleted the sentence. 

LL 190-192 “However, there is a paucity of literature on the use of L. camara as an alternative feed, therefore there is a need to evaluate the potential of L. camara as an alternative to browsing livestock”.

Thanks we have now corrected the sentences so that it can be more specific to goats instead of all animals

It sounds like an aim, or is it a future perspective? I would move this sentence to the introduction if it is an aim or to the conclusion in the second case.

Thanks, we have now moved it to the conclusion.

L199 do not repeat the name of the species every time, L. camara is just fine.

Thanks for noting and suggesting, we have now corrected to  L. camara

L202 camara, without capital c.

Thank you for noting. We have now corrected to  L. camara

L218 italic and short name

Thank you for noting. We have now corrected to  L. camara

Table 2 do not use abbreviations in the table or describe them in the capture.

Thanks for your comment, the names are not abbreviated now.

As I have already said before, I do not feel that these review’s goals have been entirely achieved.

We have gone through all the comments and our carefully considered responses have been addressed. If we didn’t address some of the comments well, we are ready to beef up our review in order to meet the global readership of the paper. We hope that our responses can be satisfactory.

Comments

Response

Line 20: Replace ‘however’ with ‘but’

Thank you, we have now replaced ‘however’ with ‘but’

Line 103: Lanatana camara is not a legume. Legume family is Fabaceae or Leguminosae. Delete legume

Thank you for your input, we have now deleted the word “legume”

Line 109: ‘fur’ is used in animals, replace ‘fur’ with ‘trichomes’.

Thanks for noting, we have now replaced the word

Lines 116 – 117: ‘the is extremity expanding’ something is missing here.

We have now removed ‘the is extremity expanding’

The article content is definitely improved and now almost suitable for publication. I would still suggest a couple of changes:

Thanks for the positive appraisal of our work.

L60 It is ok to use IAPS for invasive alien plant species, I had only suggested to be consistent throughout the text. Please replace L74, 78, 332, 334, 337, 340 with IAPS.

Thank you for your comment, we have now replaced with IAPS

L103 "Lantana camara is a legume..." Really? I am pretty sure that legumes are those plants belonging to the fabaceae family.

Thanks for your input, we have now deleted the word “legume”

In the whole article it seems to me that it is never said where the species is native to. I would add it along with a brief description of its native habitat.

Thank you for noting, we have now indicated where the species is native to, L103

Its native habitat was already indicated in L143