Effects of Vertical Water Column Temperature on Distribution of Juvenile Tuna Species in the South China Sea
, Yuan Li 1, Rui Wang 1, Xing Miao 1, Ran Zhang 1, Siyuan Chen 1,2, Puqing Song 1,* and Longshan Lin 1,*Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Mr Shigang et al. studied the relationship between the vertical structure of the water column temperature above 100 m and the distribution of juvenile tuna species. The authors found that a rapid vertical decrease in water temperature is favorable for the aggregation of juvenile tuna. The data presented by the authors are original and significant. The study is correctly designed, the authors used appropriate sampling methods and the results adequately discussed. In general, statistical analyses performed with good technical standards.
Some minor linguistic errors identified. Suggestions are listed below:
Line 21: 'These results contribute to understanding of the underlying processes....”
line 73: 'along the sides of the vessel'
Author Response
Thank you for your careful review and approval of this study. The linguistic errors have been corrected.
The point-by-point response to the comments are as follows.
1、Line 21: 'These results contribute to understanding of the underlying processes....”
Response：Thanks for your careful review. The sentence has been revised as :" These results contribute to understanding of the distribution mechanism of juvenile tuna species in the South China Sea, and provide a scientific basis for the rational development and utilization of tuna resources."
2 line 73: 'along the sides of the vessel'
Response：Corrected, thanks.
Reviewer 2 Report
The paper "Effects of vertical water column temperature on distribution of juvenile tuna species in the South China Sea" by Shigang Liu, Yuan Li, Rui Wang, Xing Miao, Ran Zhang, Siyuan Chen, Longshan Lin and Puqing Song is interesting and has a great importance for the management of tuna stocks. The authors provide new information about the habitat of different species of tuna. In this paper, the authors linked some of the studied environmental conditions to the occurrence of juvenile tuna. I think that the article is interesting and should be published, but I have a few comments to the article:
Why did the authors conduct research only in spring and autumn, and not in winter and summer? The species composition of tunas would probably change and perhaps the optimal conditions for their residence would change.
Authors should supplement the work with conclusions.
In addition, I have minor comments that I indicated in the text of the thesis.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
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Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
See the att.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.docx
