Zooplankton Assemblages of an Argentinean Saline Lake during Three Contrasting Hydroperiods and a Comparison with Hatching Experiments

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I like this interesting manuscript. Probably, it would helpful for discussion of results on hatching experiments to see the very close article "Shadrin NV, Anufriieva EV, Amat F, Eremin OY. Dormant stages of crustaceans as a mechanism of propagation in the extreme and unpredictable environment in the Crimean hypersaline lakes. Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology. 2015 Nov;33:1362-7."

Author Response

I like this interesting manuscript. Probably, it would helpful for discussion of results on hatching experiments to see the very close article "Shadrin NV, Anufriieva EV, Amat F, Eremin OY. Dormant stages of crustaceans as a mechanism of propagation in the extreme and unpredictable environment in the Crimean hypersaline lakes. Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology. 2015 Nov; 33:1362-7."

The suggestion was accepted and the article was incorporated into the Discussion and the list of references.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Review for the paper "Is a saline lake a single lake? The active zooplankton of three hydroperiods in an Argentinean lake: a comparison with hatching assay diversity" by Santiago Andrés Echaniz, Alicia María Vignatti, Gabriela Cecilia Cabrera submitted to "Limnological Review".

 

General comment.

 

Temporary lake ecosystems exhibit a pronounced seasonal succession in community structure, function, and productivity due to the prominent seasonality of environmental conditions. Nevertheless, the majority of studies on lake zooplankton have concentrated on the peak productive periods, with only a limited number of studies encompassing the year-to-year cycle, including the period with varying salinity and depth conditions. The factors that control the composition and diversity of zooplankton in these freshwater ecosystems are more complex due to the presence of variable bathymetry, hydrographic conditions, and nutrient availability, as well as species composition and the interactions between species. The present study addresses three discrete periods that exhibit marked differences in environmental conditions at Utracan Lake (Argentina). The authors demonstrated significant variations in zooplankton composition and abundance, indicating that the lake may be conceptualized as three distinct freshwater ecosystems in relation to environmental forcing. The research offers new insights into the structure and dynamics of zooplankton in lake ecosystems, making it a valuable contribution to the international scientific community.

 

 

Specific remarks.

 

L119. It is strongly recommended that a brief overview of the methods employed in the study be provided.

 

The results are presented below. An analysis examining the relationship between zooplankton abundance and environmental data would assist the reader in understanding the environmental control of zooplankton populations.

 

Section 3.3 It is recommended that the parameters of the tested taxa be compared with relevant criteria using the Kruskal-Wallis test.

 

Discussion It is essential to provide a comprehensive analysis of the role of other environmental drivers, including water temperature and nutrients, in this process.

 

Discussion It is recommended that the primary findings be compared with those of other analogous ecosystems.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Revisions are required.

Author Response

Moderate editing of English language required

The English was reviewed by PhD. Alberto Pilati, a researcher who lived in the United States for almost 10 years, where he completed his Master's and PhD in Aquatic Ecology.

 

L119. It is strongly recommended that a brief overview of the methods employed in the study be provided.

The description of the methods used to take water and zooplankton samples and make chemical determinations was incorporated in the place indicated by the reviewer.

 

The results are presented below. An analysis examining the relationship between zooplankton abundance and environmental data would assist the reader in understanding the environmental control of zooplankton populations.

A thorough analysis was carried out between the total richness and density of zooplankton and of the different species with the environmental parameters and no significant correlations were found. As indicated by the Reviewer, the analysis was incorporated into the text.

 

Section 3.3 It is recommended that the parameters of the tested taxa be compared with relevant criteria using the Kruskal-Wallis test.

Tests were performed and no significant differences were found between the richness or density of the different treatments.

 

Discussion: It is essential to provide a comprehensive analysis of the role of other environmental drivers, including water temperature and nutrients, in this process.

A paragraph was included incorporating the analysis indicated by the Reviewer.

 

Discussion: It is recommended that the primary findings be compared with those of other analogous ecosystems.

We consider that the indicated comparison had already been made in the original manuscript. In any case, a new literature search was carried out which did not show any new results or any results that significantly contribute to our article.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript provides firm data about a saline lake in Argentina, comparing three hydroperiods; moreover, they comparing the field observations with a laboratory experiment (with a hatching assay).

 

The Abstract is informative, easy to read and understand.

 

Keyword: „saline lake” is in the Title; thus, there is no reason to repeat it in the keywords. I propose to include „hatching experiments” into the keywords.  You may think to include „physicochemical parameters” as a keyword.

 

English usage of the manuscript is correct; it is easy to follow the message. Sometimes fluency may be improved (just an example): “Nine surveys were undertaken between October 2017 and March 2019.” Probably it is more fluent as “There were nine surveys between October 2017 and March 2019.”

 

I have a serious trouble with the title. I understand the motivation that the authors try to find a fancy tittle which is interesting to those surfing on the web. I also understand that you probably love this title. But this is a scientific manuscript; therefore, you should provide an informative, evident title reflecting the content of the manuscript. I propose to use the following, more informative title (or something similar):

 

Zooplankton assemblages of a saline lake in Argentina during three contrasting hydroperiods

or

Zooplankton assemblages of a saline lake in Argentina during three contrasting hydroperiods and a comparison with hatching experiment

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The manuscript provides firm data about a saline lake in Argentina, comparing three hydroperiods; moreover, they comparing the field observations with a laboratory experiment (with a hatching assay).

 

The Abstract is informative, easy to read and understand.

 

Keyword: „saline lake” is in the Title; thus, there is no reason to repeat it in the keywords. I propose to include „hatching experiments” into the keywords.  You may think to include „physicochemical parameters” as a keyword.

 

English usage of the manuscript is correct; it is easy to follow the message. Sometimes fluency may be improved (just an example): “Nine surveys were undertaken between October 2017 and March 2019.” Probably it is more fluent as “There were nine surveys between October 2017 and March 2019.”

 

I have a serious trouble with the title. I understand the motivation that the authors try to find a fancy tittle which is interesting to those surfing on the web. I also understand that you probably love this title. But this is a scientific manuscript; therefore, you should provide an informative, evident title reflecting the content of the manuscript. I propose to use the following, more informative title (or something similar):

 

Zooplankton assemblages of a saline lake in Argentina during three contrasting hydroperiods

or

Zooplankton assemblages of a saline lake in Argentina during three contrasting hydroperiods and a comparison with hatching experiment

 

Author Response

Minor editing of English language required
The English was reviewed

 

Keyword: “saline lake” is in the Title; thus, there is no reason to repeat it in the keywords. I propose to include “hatching experiments” into the keywords. You may think to include “physicochemical parameters” as a keyword.

Both keywords were added and “saline lake” was removed.

 

English usage of the manuscript is correct; it is easy to follow the message. Sometimes fluency may be improved (just an example): “Nine surveys were undertaken between October 2017 and March 2019.” Probably it is more fluent as “There were nine surveys between October 2017 and March 2019”.

The suggestion was accepted and the text was modified.

 

I have a serious trouble with the title. I understand the motivation that the authors try to find a fancy tittle which is interesting to those surfing on the web. I also understand that you probably love this title. But this is a scientific manuscript; therefore, you should provide an informative, evident title reflecting the content of the manuscript. I propose to use the following, more informative title (or something similar):

“Zooplankton assemblages of a saline lake in Argentina during three contrasting hydroperiods” or “Zooplankton assemblages of a saline lake in Argentina during three contrasting hydroperiods and a comparison with hatching experiment2.

The title was changed, taking the Reviewer's second option