Temperature Induced Flowering Phenology of Olea ferruginea Royle: A Climate Change Effect

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Manuscript entitled ''Climate change induced flowering phenology of Olea ferruginea strongly responds to spring temperature'', presents a topical topic with valuable implications on life.

To predict the change in the flowering time due to the increase in temperature were considered in the study the flowering data in the period 1980-2020. Can't the research be updated with the introduction of data for the years 2021 and 2022, years visibly marked by the action of climate change? I would suggest if you can and enter this data.

Good luck! 

 

Author Response

Reviewer 1

Comment: To predict the change in the flowering time due to the increase in temperature were considered in the study the flowering data in the period 1980-2020. Can't the research be updated with the introduction of data for the years 2021 and 2022, years visibly marked by the action of climate change? I would suggest if you can and enter this data.

Response: Thank you very much for your comment; in the analysis of climatic and temperature data, the year from 1980 to 2020 were considered. It has been corrected in the MS.

Reviewer 2 Report

The manuscript titled "Climate change induced flowering phenology of Olea ferruginea strongly responds to spring temperature" regards on an important topic. However, substantial improvements are necessary before this can be suitable for publication in Sustainability. These are listed below.

Title: delete spring.

Introduction

Second paragraph: It would be interesting to find future climate change projections in these regions and to compare with your results and comment it in the discussion section. What is about the other threats in this region, such as urban development, in relation to invasive species, water availability, growing season lengths, etc?  

Line 77: Please use authority names in Latin names of plants when  first mentioned in the text.

Line 77: Author wrote: Wherein, a few important medicinal plants e.g., O. ferruginea is sensitive to climatic variations. Please explain.

 

Lines 84-92: Authors wrote that O. ferruginea is important medical plant. Please add more detail about biology and ecology of this species, such as: distribution is it endangered, what are the threats  for this species etc.

 

Material and methods

There is no title of Figure 1

2.2. Herbarium records

Please write in more detail herbarium data. For example: How many herbarium specimen the authors reviewed? Which criteria of specimen were included in the final data set? How many herbarium specimens are set in the final data? Furthermore, the authors should provide table or figure in Supporting Information about each herbarium specimen, year, date, flowering period etc.

 

2.3. Real-time field observations

I would like to see the investigated sites on Figure 1.  

 

Results

·       The results are not properly explained and authors should have to add some missing date:

·       Please create a graphic of mean annual temperature, with Tmax and Tmin for the period 1980-2020 using climatic data from five regional meteorological stations!

·       Authors showed Seasonal temperature trends, but please add Annual temperature trend for 40 years.

·       There are no explanations of Table 3 and Figure 4!

 

Discussion

·       Add a paragraph and explain the changes in temperature from 1878 (or later) for the investigated area and discus (compare) it with your results. What will happen with flowering period of O. ferruginea in the future if temperature continues to rise?

·       Please explain how O. ferruginea’s responsiveness to increases in temperature will affect other members of its biotic community (plant–pollinator interaction).

·       Is there any similar investigation of different species from the same genus?

 

Author Response

Comment 1: Title: delete spring.

Response: Thank you very much for your comment, it has been revised.

Introduction

Comment 2: Second paragraph: It would be interesting to find future climate change projections in these regions and to compare with your results and comment it in the discussion section. What is about the other threats in this region, such as urban development, in relation to invasive species, water availability, growing season lengths, etc?  

Response: Thank you very much for your comment, it has been revised.

Comment 3: Line 77: Please use authority names in Latin names of plants when  first mentioned in the text.

Response: Done

Comment 4: Line 77: Author wrote: Wherein, a few important medicinal plants e.g., O. ferruginea is sensitive to climatic variations. Please explain.

 Response: Thank you very much, the sentence has been revised.

 

Comment 5: Lines 84-92: Authors wrote that O. ferruginea is important medical plant. Please add more detail about biology and ecology of this species, such as: distribution is it endangered, what are the threats  for this species etc.

 

Response: Thank you very much, the information about is ecology and threats has been added in the introduction section.

 Material and methods

Comment 6: There is no title of Figure 1

 Response: Thank you very much for your comment; the title has been added

2.2. Herbarium records

Comment 7. Please write in more detail herbarium data. For example: How many herbarium specimen the authors reviewed? Which criteria of specimen were included in the final data set? How many herbarium specimens are set in the final data? Furthermore, the authors should provide table or figure in Supporting Information about each herbarium specimen, year, date, flowering period etc. 

Response: The information has been added in the herbarium section.

2.3. Real-time field observations

Comment 8: I would like to see the investigated sites on Figure 1.   

Response: Thank you very much; the sampling site for real-time observation has been plotted in the figure 1.

Results

• Comment 9:The results are not properly explained and authors should have to add some missing date:

       Response: Thank you very much; yes, the results were not included in the MS, now, which are included in the result section 3.3.

• Comment 10: Please create a graphic of mean annual temperature, with Tmax and Tmin for the period 1980-2020 using climatic data from five regional meteorological stations!

       Response: Thank you very much; it could be possible, but, we focused on our hypothesis i.e. to understand the seasonal significant warming response on phenology. 

• Comment 11: Authors showed Seasonal temperature trends, but please add Annual temperature trend for 40 years.

       Response: Thank you very much; the annual response was not showing any significant trends which may not be relevant to add in the MS.

• Comment 12: There are no explanations of Table 3 and Figure 4! 

       Response: Thank you very much; it has been revised and added in the MS.

Discussion

• Comment 13: Add a paragraph and explain the changes in temperature from 1878 (or later) for the investigated area and discus (compare) it with your results. What will happen with flowering period of O. ferrugineain the future if temperature continues to rise?

        Response: The new paragraph has been added as` suggested.

• Comment 14: Please explain how O. ferruginea’s responsiveness to increases in temperature will affect other members of its biotic community (plant–pollinator interaction).

        Response: The information has been added in the last paragraph of the discussion section.

• Comment 15: Is there any similar investigation of different species from the same genus?

        Response: With thanks; till date no literature is available on the phenological shift in any species of the Olea genus.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Paper. Climate change-induced flowering phenology of Olea ferruginea strongly responds to spring temperature.

Overall, the paper is interesting. The paper investigates the effects of a changing climate on the flowering phenology of Olea ferruginea Royle, generally known as Indian olive. New results are shown and adequate and relevant literature is cited..

There are just a few minor corrections that should perhaps be addressed. Including.

 

1.       Please change the word “data sets” to “datasets”

2.       Please mention the plants common name in the abstract

3.       Please ensure an “en dash” is used between ranges of numbers or dates. I.e 15­­­­­­­–21 days (line 28), 1400-4100 m (line 105)

4.       “In addition, the temperature has been” delete “the” (line 50).

5.        “The Himalayas are one of the most sensitive areas to CC” (line 65)

6.       “Historical herbarium- and field-based observational data” (line 79-80)

7.       Line 86 “were traditionally used” or “still used” check tense.

8.       Line 181 “year 20221 has an extra “2””

9.       Please mention the plants common name

10.   Please improve the image resolution of figure 1.

 

Overall, the paper would benefit from proofreading by a native English speaker to somewhat improve readability. Please include a short reflection on the usefulness, and importance of your findings for farmers in the case study region.  Furthermore, please mention in brief what further studies are needed. and how could your study be improved going forward? 

Author Response

There are just a few minor corrections that should perhaps be addressed. Including.

 Response: Thank you very much; as per your suggestions, the MS has been revised.

Comment 1. Please change the word “data sets” to “datasets”

Response: Done

Comment 2: Please mention the plants common name in the abstract

Response: Done

Comment 3: Please ensure an “en dash” is used between ranges of numbers or dates. I.e 15­­­­­­­–21 days (line 28), 1400-4100 m (line 105)

Response: Done

Comment 4: “In addition, the temperature has been” delete “the” (line 50).

Response: Done

Comment 5: “The Himalaya are one of the most sensitive areas to CC” (line 65)

Response: Done

Comment 6: “Historical herbarium- and field-based observational data” (line 79-80)

Response: Done

Comment 7:.Line 86 “were traditionally used” or “still used” check tense.

Response: Done

Comment 8:Line 181 “year 20221 has an extra “2””

Response: Done

Comment 9: Please mention the plants common name

Response: Done

Comment 10: Please improve the image resolution of figure 1.

Response: Done

Comment 11: Overall, the paper would benefit from proofreading by a native English speaker to somewhat improve readability. Please include a short reflection on the usefulness, and importance of your findings for farmers in the case study region.  Furthermore, please mention in brief what further studies are needed. and how could your study be improved going forward? 

Response: As suggested all the necessary changes have been incorporated into the manuscript.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 4 Report

Dear authors，

1. In the context of global change, hydrothermal conditions in different regions have also undergone corresponding changes. Climate change in the western Himalayas has led to the change of plant phenology. Studying the response of olive flowering phenology to spring temperature induced by climate change in this region is of great value for revealing the law of biological and environmental changes, maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem stability, and coping with climate change. Based on regional climate records and actual monitoring, your study establishes a phenological change model and tries to expand people's new understanding of climate change, which has certain practical significance.

2.Considering current flowering dates along with herbarium information (1878 -2008) for Olea ferruginea, GAM predicted early flowering (i.e., 15-21 days) over the last 100 years significantly (P < 0.01) (Figure 2), GAM predicted early flowering (i.e., 15-21 days) over the last 100 years significantly (P < 0.01), This seems like a very interesting development.

3. Climate change is uncertain. Although the climate of the study area has been observed in a certain time series, the reason for its change is the result of the combined action of natural and human factors. It is complicated to explain more reasonably that the change of olive phenology in the study area is the result of the change of specific climatic factors. It is suggested to further analyze the objectivity of this aspect in the introduction and discussion.

4. It is suggested that on the basis of the comparative analysis of about 40 years of climatic data and more than 100 years of plant specimen information, combined with the current IPCC simulation of global and regional climate scenarios, it is more forward-looking to properly supplement the impact of possible future climate change on the phenology of olive, especially the flowering period.

5. Figures and Tables need to be further normalized. (1) Row spacing of tables (Table 2, Table 3) shall be standardized. (2) Supplementary map names, names of (a) and (b), etc. are required for Figure 1. (3) Check the font size of "5.768E-07" in Table 1.

6. The full text of the Latin names of plants should be expressed in italics, as shown in Figure 2. O. ferruginea does not use italics; You are advised to check them one by one. Verify the consistency of significant numbers of the same factor parameters in the whole paper.

 

Author Response

Comment 1: In the context of global change, hydrothermal conditions in different regions have also undergone corresponding changes. Climate change in the western Himalayas has led to the change of plant phenology. Studying the response of olive flowering phenology to spring temperature induced by climate change in this region is of great value for revealing the law of biological and environmental changes, maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem stability, and coping with climate change. Based on regional climate records and actual monitoring, your study establishes a phenological change model and tries to expand people's new understanding of climate change, which has certain practical significance.

Response: Thank you very much for your comment.

 Comment 2. Considering current flowering dates along with herbarium information (1878 -2008) for Olea ferruginea, GAM predicted early flowering (i.e., 15-21 days) over the last 100 years significantly (P < 0.01) (Figure 2), GAM predicted early flowering (i.e., 15-21 days) over the last 100 years significantly (P < 0.01), This seems like a very interesting development.

Response: Thank you very much for your comment.

 Comment 3. Climate change is uncertain. Although the climate of the study area has been observed in a certain time series, the reason for its change is the result of the combined action of natural and human factors. It is complicated to explain more reasonably that the change of olive phenology in the study area is the result of the change of specific climatic factors. It is suggested to further analyze the objectivity of this aspect in the introduction and discussion.

Response:  Thank you very much; as suggested all the necessary changes have been incorporated into the introduction and discussion.

 Comment 4. It is suggested that on the basis of the comparative analysis of about 40 years of climatic data and more than 100 years of plant specimen information, combined with the current IPCC simulation of global and regional climate scenarios, it is more forward-looking to properly supplement the impact of possible future climate change on the phenology of olive, especially the flowering period.

Response:  Thank you very much; as suggested all the necessary changes have been incorporated in the discussion section.

Comment 5. Figures and Tables need to be further normalized. (1) Row spacing of tables (Table 2, Table 3) shall be standardized. (2) Supplementary map names, names of (a) and (b), etc. are required for Figure 1. (3) Check the font size of "5.768E-07" in Table 1.

Response: Thank you very much; as suggested all the necessary changes have been incorporated into the manuscript.

Comment 6. The full text of the Latin names of plants should be expressed in italics, as shown in Figure 2. O. ferruginea does not use italics; You are advised to check them one by one. Verify the consistency of significant numbers of the same factor parameters in the whole paper.

Response: Thank you very much; it has been revised and added in the MS.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 5 Report

The current study examined the impact of long-term climatic changes on the phenology of spring flowering in the western Himalayas. The results of the research are not clear and are more related to the study area. Some comments about this research are given below:

More results of the research should be stated in the abstract.

Similar research has not been reviewed in the introduction.

Why didn't you use more reliable climate indicators for climate change?

The results of the research are brief and not within the scope of this journal.

The shapes are monotonous and of poor quality and do not provide any information.

The characters inside the formulas were not explained.

Author Response

Comment 1: More results of the research should be stated in the abstract.

Response: Thank you very much; it has been revised and added in the MS.

Comment 2: Similar research has not been reviewed in the introduction.

Response: With thanks, similar research has been added in the second paragraph of the introduction section.

Comment 3: Why didn't you use more reliable climate indicators for climate change?

Response: Thank you very much; we use climate indicators as per the availability from the study area.

Comment 4: The results of the research are brief and not within the scope of this journal.

Response: Thank you very much; results have been elaborated and revised in the MS.

Comment 5: The shapes are monotonous and of poor quality and do not provide any information.

Response: Thank you very much; the figures have been revised to improve the quality.

Comment 6: The characters inside the formulas were not explained.

Response: With thanks; it could be possible, but it is not necessary to explain the formula, however, the brief description of the GAM was described in the MS.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear Author,

Thank you to answering to all my questions and doubts. You improve the manuscript, so I recommend it to be published.

Reviewer 5 Report

Thanks to the authors for making the requested corrections