Nematode Communities in Soils of the Same Volcanic Origin across a Gradient of Naturalization: From Intensive Agriculture to Forest

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors What is the main question addressed by the research? By three different sites located in the city of Portici along the southwestern slopes of the Vesuvius, and with the same pedological origin and characterization, it was investigated how different land use impacts the soil nematode community. . Do you consider the topic original or relevant in the field? Does it address a specific gap in the field? Please also explain why this is/ is not the case. This research is useful because authors demonstrated that biodiversity and ecological indices applied on soil nematode community are effective to detect alterations due to anthropogenic impact.
. What does it add to the subject area compared with other published material?
. What specific improvements should the authors consider regarding the methodology? What further controls should be considered?
. Are the conclusions consistent with the evidence and arguments presented and do they address the main question posed? Yes. Please also explain why this is/ is not the case.
. Are the references appropriate? Yes.
. Please include any additional comments on the tables and figures. My comments for table and figures are in manuscript.

 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

thank you for all the useful suggestions to improve our manuscript. Suggested changes have been accepted. Therefore, tables and figures have been modified according to you.

Sincerely

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors,

The manuscript describes nematode communities in soils with the same geological origin from intensive agriculture to forest and studies the factors affecting the nematode communities' structure. Also, to use these relations as indicators for unhealthy/healthy systems.

Overall, the manuscript is well written.

But as a specialist in soil studies, for improvement, you can study more factors in soil that affect the nematode communities' structure such as the type of cultivated plant and its root depth, and their exudates. You can apply the equations that consider the soil quality to use them as a real indicator of an unhealthy/healthy system. Also, you can describe the factors that influence the nematode communities' structure in more detail either in the Introduction part or in the Discussion.

My only small notice for the Figures was not clear.

Thank you for your effort.

Sincerely,

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Minor editing of English language required.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

thank you for all the useful suggestions to improve our manuscript. Some general information on other soil factors that can affect the nematode communities' structure such as the type of cultivated plant and its root depth, and their exudates have been included in the Introduction and in the Discussion sections.

Sincerely

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript significantly contributes to understanding soil nematode communities and their responses to different land management practices. The detailed analysis of nematode community structures and their correlation with soil properties provides valuable insights into the ecological health of soils under varying management regimes.

Including pictures of some nematodes may interest the audience, please add them.

The significance of the Student–Newman–Keuls post hoc test is indicated with letters (a, b, c). What do these letters mean?

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

thank you for all the useful suggestions to improve our manuscript. 

- Including pictures of some nematodes may interest the audience, please add them.

Figure 1 has been included in the manuscript. This show some of the main thophic groups of nematodes.

-The significance of the Student–Newman–Keuls post hoc test is indicated with letters (a, b, c). What do these letters mean?

Letters mean that data are statistically different. The sentence has been changed.