The Arnold Arboretum’s Campaign for the Living Collections: A Case Study in Living Collection Development

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Nicely done manuscript that provides a good example for other living collections efforts. Should be a useful contribution to the literature in this area.

Generally very clear and easy to read. Just a few errors or editorial suggestions below:

Line 49: Delete “of.”

Figure 4: The figure legend refers to “yellow” bars, but the actual color looks green to me.

Line 307: I think “result” should be deleted.

Line 324: Reads better if “the” is deleted.

Line 338: Delete either “significantly” or “drastically.” Both are not needed.

Line 411: The authors should state that the “example” here is one of the exceptional positive examples. Instead, following the last sentence of the previous paragraph that most plans are lacking in several ways, the reader may expect the “example” to be one of the plans lacking some positive aspects.

Author Response

Thank you very much for taking the time to review the manuscript. All of your comments and suggested edits were all incorporated into the final version.

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear authors, 

I carefully read you manuscript with a great interest. You did really valuable job during the years with the Campaign. The manuscript contents all important parts including the history and background, report of the progress, current situation, and future plans. You also submit adequate and comprehensive summary with critical evaluation of the weak points and comparison of the Campaign with another similar projects. I cannot find anything incomprehensible.

I wish you a fluent publication process and good luck with further journey on this exceptional work!

Author Response

Thank you very much for reading and reviewing this manuscript. We appreciate your support and interest.

Reviewer 3 Report

As  a professional  botanist, very much involved with living collections  and a major herbarium  I found this paper an informative and engaging read. It clearly sets out the major strategic targets for living collections, highlights  the best practices and  goes on to show just how far  these have been met by the Arnold Arboretum. I also like the comparisons with other comparable institutions and, if anything, these could have been expanded. This paper is likely to be widely read and many of the practices outlined in it taken on board   by other institutions.

Author Response

Thank you very much for reviewing this manuscript, and for the positive feedback. We appreciate your support and interest in the work of the Arnold Arboretum, and other botanical collections.