Multi-Scale Coral Reef and Seascape Habitat Variables Combine to Influence Reef Fish Assemblages†
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsComments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Well written
Author Response
Please see attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis paper covers a topic that many coral reef fish ecologists have thought about in recent years: what is the combined influence of reef habitat types and adjacent non-reef habitats on on reef fish assemblage structure. This is the first study I know of to conduct a thorough, quantitative analysis of these influences. As such, it represents a highly novel and original piece of work.
The paper is very clearly written, and the authors deserve praise for making a complex analysis easily understandable and interesting to read. I like the level of detail provided in the Discussion with respect to the habitat associations of particular fish species - these are in agreement with what I have seen from reef fish assemblages in the Calamianes Islands, Camiguin and Surigao del Norte, so I am confident that the data and analyses are robust.
The only minor criticism I have is that the effect (or lack thereof) of NTMRs is mentioned only briefly. The authors state in lines 296-299 that "When evaluating the potential effects of fishing, nMDS and SIMPER results indicated weakly significant differences in assemblage structure of reef fish between fished and NTMR locations, explaining only 3-4% of the total variation. Furthermore, no effect of protection status (fished vs NTMRs) was observed for fish diversity". The finding that MPA status had little effect is highly important for management of Philippine reef fisheries, and is somewhat contrary to expectations, given the results of early studies by Abesamis, Russ, Alcala, and colleagues in Sumilon and Apo Islands. That said, I am not surprised by the finding, given the small size and spotty enforcement of many MPAs in the central Philippines. Regardless, I think it deserves some mention in the Discussion, or at the very least, a sentence in the Conclusion.
Author Response
Please see attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis manuscript is one of the best research I have read, peer-reviewed, and enjoyed in recent years. The manuscript studies the factors that affect the distribution of coral reef fish. The experiment is very well designed and the research is written in good scientific English. There are only some minor notes that can be modified.
There is exaggeration in the description of research methods, especially the part related to the description of statistical methods, and it can be summarized and concentrated so as not to cause boredom and disorientation of the reader. The same could be said about the results which is lengthy and can be focused The research language is good and strong. However, there are some minor errors that can be corrected, some of which are embedded in the attached pdf file. Some references can be added that explain the role and importance of mangroves as a nursery area for coral reef fish in the Indo-Pacific region. I have given an example.Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please see attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
