PONE-D-20-34738

Rearing methods and life cycle characteristics of Chironomus sp. Florida (Chironomidae: Diptera): a rapid-developing species for laboratory studies

PLOS ONE

Dear Dr. Reyes-Maldonado,

Thank you for submitting your manuscript to PLOS ONE. After careful consideration, we feel that it has merit but does not fully meet PLOS ONE’s publication criteria as it currently stands. Therefore, we invite you to submit a revised version of the manuscript that addresses the points raised during the review process.

Given that Methods sections are typically written in the past tense, I would ask that you make the changes necessary to fit this standard style.  In addition, I ask that you consider the comments from Reviewer 2 regarding reducing the overall length of the manuscript. Lastly, delete the "et al." in line 320 for "...New et al. [32]....".

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We look forward to receiving your revised manuscript.

Kind regards,

J Joe Hull, Ph.D.

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

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Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Comments to the Author

1. Is the manuscript technically sound, and do the data support the conclusions?

The manuscript must describe a technically sound piece of scientific research with data that supports the conclusions. Experiments must have been conducted rigorously, with appropriate controls, replication, and sample sizes. The conclusions must be drawn appropriately based on the data presented.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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3. Have the authors made all data underlying the findings in their manuscript fully available?

The PLOS Data policy requires authors to make all data underlying the findings described in their manuscript fully available without restriction, with rare exception (please refer to the Data Availability Statement in the manuscript PDF file). The data should be provided as part of the manuscript or its supporting information, or deposited to a public repository. For example, in addition to summary statistics, the data points behind means, medians and variance measures should be available. If there are restrictions on publicly sharing data—e.g. participant privacy or use of data from a third party—those must be specified.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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4. Is the manuscript presented in an intelligible fashion and written in standard English?

PLOS ONE does not copyedit accepted manuscripts, so the language in submitted articles must be clear, correct, and unambiguous. Any typographical or grammatical errors should be corrected at revision, so please note any specific errors here.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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5. Review Comments to the Author

Please use the space provided to explain your answers to the questions above. You may also include additional comments for the author, including concerns about dual publication, research ethics, or publication ethics. (Please upload your review as an attachment if it exceeds 20,000 characters)

Reviewer #1: The manuscript is technically sound, and the data support the conclusions. It describes a technically sound study about rearing techniques of the non-biting midge Chironomus sp. "Florida". Experiments were conducted with appropriate controls and sampling size. Conclusions are appropriate.

Statistical analysis were performed appropriately and described well.

As stated by the authors, all data underlying the findings are fully available.

The manuscript is written well, the language is clear and correct.

Minor Review: Although the manuscript is well written, covers an interesting experiment/technology with all nessecary details, and is of interest for the field, I would recommend that it could be shortened without loosing information on details.

Reviewer #2: This is a very important and interesting manuscript describing rearing methods and life cycle characteristics of a very neglected group of aquatic insects. The articles is well-written and bring lots of relevant information to the field. This manuscript should be accepted as it is.

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: No

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Rearing methods and life cycle characteristics of Chironomus sp. Florida (Chironomidae: Diptera): a rapid-developing species for laboratory studies

PONE-D-20-34738R1

Dear Dr. Reyes-Maldonado,

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

Within one week, you’ll receive an e-mail detailing the required amendments. When these have been addressed, you’ll receive a formal acceptance letter and your manuscript will be scheduled for publication.

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Kind regards,

J Joe Hull, Ph.D.

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Additional Editor Comments (optional):

Reviewers' comments: