Potential Use of Aquatic Vascular Plants to Control Cyanobacterial Blooms: A Review

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Title: Prospects And Problems Of Using Aquatic Vascular Plants To Control The Processes Of Water Bloom: A Review

Minor comments:

Lines 31-38: you may consider removing all the details related to the species name to make this paragraph more visible and easier to read. The citation of Species name (Genus sp.) will be enough.

Lines 48-51:  Paraphrase the long sentence; it could be divided into two separate clear once.

Line 74-77: This part of the explication should be re-considered and will be paraphrased; ..not clear at all!

Lines 79-81: what are the other reasons behind this excessive growth of macrophytes, besides being invasive? It might also be a direct consequence of eutrophication, which may cause an increase in the growth and the abundance of native macrophyte species.  

Line 98-101: Revision of the long sentence, consider avoiding long phrases throughout the whole manuscript. It is difficult to follow such a long phrase; consider dividing it into two exact phrases.

Lines 181-183: if you could re-explain in a clearer way the relationship between the increase in water temperature (maybe in a relationship with the global warming phenomenon), and the increase of macrophyte allelochemicals content in water. Do researchers assume a positive correlation between the increase in macrophyte biomass and their allelochemicals released thereafter? Or is it about a change in the phytochemical profiling of these compounds along with the change in water temperatures?    

Line 183: what enzymes? Enzymes of bloom-forming phytoplankton? Of native species of the aquatic ecosystem? If you could be more precise.

Lines 217-218: it seems that the use of macrophyte allelochemicals might be encountered with abiotic factors that might cause a failure in the whole bioremediation process to control bloom-forming cyanobacteria. What do you suggest as a sum-up of the optimal physicochemical conditions that can be combined in a way to ensure the whole success of the bioremediation process as a stand-alone eco-friendly tool?

Line 233: phyla is a plural of phylum; they practically mean the same thing; no need to use them both.

Lines 234-235: sensitive to a wide range of allelochemicals? Or only to some particular ones?

Lines 276-277: uniformize the writing of the species' names throughout the whole manuscript. The first letter related to the author named the species is present in some and absent in others.

lines 312 (Table 2): consider uniformizing the allelochemical structures in the table with the same color and same color intensity.   

Lines 326-327: the cited cellular damages could be resumed to keywords.

Line 336: species name in italic!             

Lines 367: de novo synthesis.

Line 369: gene name in italic.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer 1,

We are very grateful to you for your interesting questions that helped us to improve the manuscript. All changes in the article are highlighted in yellow.

Lines 31-38: you may consider removing all the details related to the species name to make this paragraph more visible and easier to read. The citation of Species name (Genus sp.) will be enough.

 

Authors’ response: The names provided in this sentence are very important and cannot be omitted or be referred to the whole Genus. Because the Genus contain species with different allelopathic effect.

 

Lines 48-51:  Paraphrase the long sentence; it could be divided into two separate clear once.

Authors’ response: The sentence is paraphrased.

 

Line 74-77: This part of the explication should be re-considered and will be paraphrased; .not clear at all!

Authors’ response: This part was rewritten and re-considered.

 

Lines 79-81: what are the other reasons behind this excessive growth of macrophytes, besides being invasive? It might also be a direct consequence of eutrophication, which may cause an increase in the growth and the abundance of native macrophyte species.

 

Authors’ response: We truly thank the reviewer for this helpful question. Eutrophication is indeed the main cause of excessive growth of higher vascular plants. Therefore, we set out the text in the manuscript as follows: «With increasing anthropogenic eutrophication, excessive reproduction of aquatic vascular plants may be observed. At the same time, more competitive species completely displace less competitive ones. Some species of aquatic vascular plants have adaptations that ensure their rapid spread and growth and increase their invasive potential». 

 

Line 98-101: Revision of the long sentence, consider avoiding long phrases throughout the whole manuscript. It is difficult to follow such a long phrase; consider dividing it into two exact phrases.

 

Authors’ response: The sentence is paraphrased and divided into two.

 

Lines 181-183: if you could re-explain in a clearer way the relationship between the increase in water temperature (maybe in a relationship with the global warming phenomenon), and the increase of macrophyte allelochemicals content in water. Do researchers assume a positive correlation between the increase in macrophyte biomass and their allelochemicals released thereafter? Or is it about a change in the phytochemical profiling of these compounds along with the change in water temperatures? 

  

Authors’ response:

Increasing water temperature contributes to the accumulation of biomass of aquatic vascular plants and increase the release of allelopathically active substances from it. For example, the intensive development of Myriophyllum verticillatum is observed in August and during this period it has the strongest allelopathic inhibition of phytoplankton species (Hilt et al. 2006). Temperature also affects the photochemical profile of these substances.

 

Lines 217-218: it seems that the use of macrophyte allelochemicals might be encountered with abiotic factors that might cause a failure in the whole bioremediation process to control bloom-forming cyanobacteria. What do you suggest as a sum-up of the optimal physicochemical conditions that can be combined in a way to ensure the whole success of the bioremediation process as a stand-alone eco-friendly tool? With regard to the temperature factor, the optimal growth temperatures of aquatic vascular plants, which are planned to be used as a potential source of allelochemicals, should be considered. As a rule, plants with high temperature optimums release allelochemicals that are characterized by stability at these temperatures.

 

Authors’ response: One of the main ways to solve this problem is to prevent the development of stressful conditions in which, in fact, allelopathically active substances are unstable. For example, excessively high pH and concentration of dissolved oxygen in water are the result of intensive reproduction and high metabolic activity of aquatic vascular plants. The low level of these indicators is associated with the intensification of the processes of decay of their accumulated phytomass. Therefore, in order to prevent the development of these stressful conditions, selective extraction of biomass of fast-growing species of aquatic vascular plants should be carried out. In addition, to control the supply of nutrients from the outside, which contribute to the intensive reproduction of aquatic macrophytes.

 

Line 233: phyla is a plural of phylum; they practically mean the same thing; no need to use them both.

Authors’ response: Thanks, changed

 

Lines 234-235: sensitive to a wide range of allelochemicals? Or only to some particular ones?

Authors’ response: They are sensitive to a wide range of allelochemicals. Changed in the text

 

Lines 276-277: uniformize the writing of the species' names throughout the whole manuscript. The first letter related to the author named the species is present in some and absent in others.

 

Authors’ response: 

We checked the writing of authors and species names. For this manuscript, we followed common rules for writing authors' names from an algae base. Usually, the writing of different surnames of authors can be not similar. In this work, we have done the same as in www.algaebase.org. Regarding one name for one species, we left surnames of authors only for a first mentioning the species name (this is not referred for table and figure). This is a common rule for all taxonomical or systematical papers.

 

lines 312 (Table 2): consider uniformizing the allelochemical structures in the table with the same color and same color intensity.   

Authors’ response: The table was changed

 

Lines 326-327: the cited cellular damages could be resumed to keywords.

Authors’ response: Added

 

Line 336: species name in italic!             

Authors’ response: changed

Lines 367: de novo synthesis.

Authors’ response:  Changed

Line 369: gene name in italic.

Authors’ response:  Thanks, changed

 

 

Kind regards,

Corresponding author Olena Bilous

 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

1. Environmental factors could directly affect the growth and reproduction of phytoplankton. How to prove that environmental factors indirectly affect the reproduction of phytoplankton by affecting the allelopathy of aquatic vascular plants?
2. What is the difference between the fatty acids synthesized by phytoplankton and those produced by the allelopathic action of aquatic vascular plants?
3. The article expounds the advantages of aquatic vascular plants in inhibiting algal blooms, but allelochemicals are specific. Could you explain the practical operability in preventing cyanobacterial blooms and how to solve the harm of the massive growth of aquatic vascular plants?

Author Response

Dear Reviewer 2,

We are very grateful to you for your interesting questions that helped us to improve the manuscript. All changes in the article are highlighted in yellow.

 

1. Environmental factors could directly affect the growth and reproduction of phytoplankton. How to prove that environmental factors indirectly affect the reproduction of phytoplankton by affecting the allelopathy of aquatic vascular plants?

 

Authors’ response: 

Environmental factors do have an indirect effect on phytoplankton reproduction, affecting the allelopathy of aquatic vascular plants. For example, limiting the amount of bioavailable nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) causes intensified synthesis and release of allelochemicals by aquatic vascular plants, which in turn causes a decrease in phytoplankton reproduction. In addition, the increase in the release of allelochemicals by aquatic vascular plants can occur with increasing temperature of the aquatic environment and light intensity. Hilt et al. (2006) showed that in August, when water temperature and light intensity are at their highest, Myriophyllum verticillatum is characterized by the strongest allelopathic inhibition of phytoplankton.

 

2. What is the difference between the fatty acids synthesized by phytoplankton and those produced by the allelopathic action of aquatic vascular plants?

 Authors’ response: 

It should be noted that allelopathic fatty acids are extracellular metabolites of aquatic vascular plants. The inhibitory effect of these acids on phytoplankton is associated with their concentration in water. If they are released in aquatic vascular plants in significant quantities, they inhibit the growth of algae, including blue-green (cyanobacteria).

 

3. The article expounds the advantages of aquatic vascular plants in inhibiting algal blooms, but allelochemicals are specific. Could you explain the practical operability in preventing cyanobacterial blooms and how to solve the harm of the massive growth of aquatic vascular plants?

 

Authors’ response:

In practical terms, allelopathy is very important to fight against "blooming" of water caused by cyanobacteria. Allelopathically active compounds that are produced by aquatic vascular plants are characterized by selective power and have a pronounced inhibitory effect against cyanobacteria, which cause harmful "blooming" of water. At the same time, their impact on other algae and aquatic organisms may be minimal or not observed at all, which ensures the maintenance of normal functioning of aquatic ecosystems. In addition, these natural mechanisms of action on cyanobacteria are environmentally safe.

In order to prevent the mass growth of aquatic vascular plants, the supply of nutrients that contribute to these processes should be controlled. In addition, selectively or completely (in the case of particularly dangerous species) to remove and dispose of their phytomass. 

 

Kind regards,

Corresponding author Olena Bilous

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Great review article. Can be printed.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

 

thank you so much for a positive evaluation of our manuscript. However, some additional improvements were also made because of some ideas of another reviewers. 

 

Kind regards,

Bilous Olena

Reviewer 4 Report

 

Report on the manuscript entitled (Prospects And Problems Of Using Aquatic Vascular Plants To Control The Processes Of Water Bloom: A Review) submitted to Water is quite popular research, has been dealt by many authors previously. However, there is always a scope to review and crystallize new information for overall benefaction of the scientific society working in this direction. Therefore, this manuscript requires additional details and essential corrections, and then it will be re-submitted to Journal Water.

 

• The topic is timely and worth revision. However, the paper lacks a coherent structure and in its present form is merely a compilation of information without liason and critical analyses
• The title should be rewritten and follow the basic English writing in the abstract. Also, why do you mention the processes in the title and not mentioned in the abstract
• Water bloom in the abstract did not show which bloom, either from phytoplankton, cyanobacteria, bacteria, or other organisms and I think if you substitute it with Eutrophication as mentioned in the introduction it will give the meaning
• The abstract is short and not compatible with the sections of the review article, which are descriptive and enough for the aim of the review
• L 28 cyanobacterial is not correct, and you have to change to Cyanobacteria
• Why you are focusing on the vascular plants and not all aquatic plants
• L 48-51 the aim of the work should be specific and accurate. You stated in the title as bloom and in the aim as cyanobacterial blooms and in the introduction as phytoplankton blooms
• The English language of the manuscript should be improved. There are many sentences that are not optimal, thus the manuscript requires substantial revision by a native English scientific author to improve readability and correct grammatical errors.

• The aim of the work should be rewritten to focus on the new additions and limitations.
• Figure 1, the authors should mention which river or which aquatic body is this photo
• L70 -72 the sentence should be revised (Eichhornia crassipes and Pistia stratiotes, due to high ecological adaptability and fast 70 spread, are examples of the most invasive species among aquatic plants and can cause 71 severe damage to the aquatic ecosystems [33–35].
• Also, the sentence L 81-84 should be revised
• The authors discussed the potential effect of vascular aquatic plants on the phytoplankton, and they should differentiate between the toxic phytoplankton and the beneficial phytoplanktons which are considered the main food of fish in the aquatic system either freshwater or marine see (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2989/16085914.2017.1358138, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2989/16085914.2020.1860892
• L 162 (Aquatic vascular plants and macroalgae vegetate actively in both standing…) the sentence is not correct. What is vegetate??? And what you mean by macroalgae? And if the macroalgae of freshwater or marine? You have to be specific for readers
• L 288 you have to be consistent, what do you mean with macrophytes?? You are talking about vascular aquatic plants and it allelopathy on bloom-forming phytoplankton and especially the toxic species such as cyanobacteria
• In conclusion, you mentioned (The use of these natural mechanisms to control the blue-green algae abundance is much safer for aquatic ecosystems compared to synthetic chemical compounds that can lead to secondary pollution of water bodies). This phenomenon is natural, and no human, interferes with this mechanism how do you use this mechanism as stated in the sentence above?
• The authors should consider the use of higher aquatic plants, macrophytes, aquatic vascular plants, and other expressions which confuse the readers
• The manuscript needs extensive revision in both scientific writing, grammar, and English language in spite it has a good and beneficial information
•  

Author Response

Dear Reviewer 4, thank you very much for the detailed analysis of our manuscript and your valuable inputs. All changes in the manuscript are highlighted in yellow.

 

1. The topic is timely and worth revision. However, the paper lacks a coherent structure and in its present form is merely a compilation of information without liason and critical analyses

Authors’ response:  We have significantly improved the structure of the article. In addition, a summary section # 6 has been added «The main advantages and some aspects of the use of aquatic vascular plants to control the processes of harmful "blooming" of water».

 

2. The title should be rewritten and follow the basic English writing in the abstract. Also, why do you mention the processes in the title and not mentioned in the abstract

Authors’ response: The title (new is «Prospects Of Using Aquatic Vascular Plants To Control The Processes Of Water Bloom Caused By Cyanobacteria: A Review») and abstract were rewritten.

 

3. Water bloom in the abstract did not show which bloom, either from phytoplankton, cyanobacteria, bacteria, or other organisms and I think if you substitute it with Eutrophication as mentioned in the introduction it will give the meaning

Authors’ response: The mentioned changes were made, we added cyanobacteria to be more accurate to the abstract, title and in the texts.

 

4. The abstract is short and not compatible with the sections of the review article, which are descriptive and enough for the aim of the review.

Authors’ response: The abstract is rewritten

 

5. L 28 cyanobacterial is not correct, and you have to change to Cyanobacteria

 

Authors’ response: This was considered during writing new abstract.

 

6. Why you are focusing on the vascular plants and not all aquatic plants

 

Authors’ response:  The term macrophytes (aquatic plants) also refers to multicellular algae and aquatic mosses, as the information presented in the article mainly relates to aquatic vascular plants, so we stopped at this term.

 

7. L 48-51 the aim of the work should be specific and accurate. You stated in the title as bloom and in the aim as cyanobacterial blooms and in the introduction as phytoplankton blooms
8. The English language of the manuscript should be improved. There are many sentences that are not optimal, thus the manuscript requires substantial revision by a native English scientific author to improve readability and correct grammatical errors.
9. The aim of the work should be rewritten to focus on the new additions and limitations.
10. Figure 1, the authors should mention which river or which aquatic body is this photo
11. L70 -72 the sentence should be revised (Eichhornia crassipes and Pistia stratiotes, due to high ecological adaptability and fast 70 spread, are examples of the most invasive species among aquatic plants and can cause 71 severe damage to the aquatic ecosystems [33–35].
12. Also, the sentence L 81-84 should be revised
13. The authors discussed the potential effect of vascular aquatic plants on the phytoplankton, and they should differentiate between the toxic phytoplankton and the beneficial phytoplanktons which are considered the main food of fish in the aquatic system either freshwater or marine see (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2989/16085914.2017.1358138, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2989/16085914.2020.1860892
14. L 162 (Aquatic vascular plants and macroalgae vegetate actively in both standing…) the sentence is not correct. What is vegetate??? And what you mean by macroalgae? And if the macroalgae of freshwater or marine? You have to be specific for readers
15. L 288 you have to be consistent, what do you mean with macrophytes?? You are talking about vascular aquatic plants and it allelopathy on bloom-forming phytoplankton and especially the toxic species such as cyanobacteria

 

Authors’ response: We agree with above mentioned remarks 7-15. The appropriate changes have been made to the article.

 

16. In conclusion, you mentioned (The use of these natural mechanisms to control the blue-green algae abundance is much safer for aquatic ecosystems compared to synthetic chemical compounds that can lead to secondary pollution of water bodies). This phenomenon is natural, and no human, interferes with this mechanism how do you use this mechanism as stated in the sentence above?

 

Authors’ response: In this case, we mean the introduction of aquatic vascular plants into water bodies to control the processes of harmful "blooming" of water. As this was not the focus of attention, we have added this information in the general section # 6 "The main advantages and some aspects of the use of aquatic vascular plants to control the processes of harmful" blooming "of water".

 

17. The authors should consider the use of higher aquatic plants, macrophytes, aquatic vascular plants, and other expressions which confuse the readers
18. The manuscript needs extensive revision in both scientific writing, grammar, and English language in spite it has a good and beneficial information

 

Authors’ response: Appropriate changes for 17-18 comment have been made. The text of the manuscript was also improved by Susan Brawley (native American, scientist)

 

 

 

Kind regards,

Corresponding author Olena Bilous

 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 4 Report

the authors considered all comments and now the review article is suitable for publication