Multiple Chromosome Fissions, Including That of the X Chromosome, in Aulacocyclus tricuspis Kaup (Coleoptera, Passalidae) from New Caledonia: Characterization of a Rare but Recurrent Pathway of Chromosome Evolution in Animals

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Please see a few suggestions on the attached copy of the manuscript

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Thanks for your comments on the English construction. We followed your advices. Yours sincerely

Reviewer 2 Report

In this study, the authors explored the karyotypes Aulacocyclus tricuspis from New Caledonia. The study falls into the scope of Genes and thus could be published. Before this can be done, a few amendments should be made as specified below.

 

Introduction

- In the first paragraph the authors explained that fissions were hardly demonstrated in other taxa. In fact, there are several cases, specially using whole chromosome painting, for instance, in mammals and birds. I think some studies with toucans (Ramphastidae family) are a good example, since they have high diploid number, with most acrocentric chromosomes, due to chromosome fissions. Please, check.

- This section has two, and enormous paragraphs. Please, split them in four paragraphs.

- Several parts require the references (REF). For instance: Amongst the diverse chromosome rearrangements associated with speciation events, fissions are not the most commonly reported (REF). Large variations of chromosome numbers within and between species, genera or families are more generally attributed to a series of chromosome fusions, in particular when the karyotype with the highest chromosome number is composed of acrocentric chromosomes (REF). Please, check all the manuscript.

 

Material and methods

- The species Vesperus xatarti, Cryptocephalus globicollis and Blaps mucronate are not included in this section. Please, add them.

Discussion

- Lines 160-161: Please add the reference.

-  Lines 176-177: I am not sure about the word “chaotic”. Perhaps, it would be more appropriated to say that they have highly rearranged karyotypes. 

- Lines 178-179: Thus, increases in chromosome numbers predominate, probably due chromosome fissions, but fusions are likely to have also occurred.

 

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Thank you for your various comments on content and form. We agree with your advices and followed them. Only an exception is your note "Lines 160-161: Please add the reference." We didn't put attached references as we think that related taxa were published before by other authors. Therefore the subject does not belong to our study.

Thanks again to take on your time to read us. Yours sincerely,