PONE-D-22-19909Population dynamics of western gorillas at Mbeli BaiPLOS ONE

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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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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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5. Review Comments to the Author

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Reviewer #1: The study is well comprehensive addressing density dependance and population dynamics of western gorillas at Mbeli Bai. I have no corrections for this research paper. The author investigates the population dynamics of western gorillas in Mbeli Bai, a swampy forest clearing within the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (NNNP) in the Republic of Congo, over a 25-year period. Despite their widespread range in Central Africa, western gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) are critically endangered. The entire population of western gorillas is estimated to be 330,000, with a 2.7 percent annual decline owing to illicit murders, sickness, and habitat destruction.

Reviewer #2: The abstract needs some minor corrections.

The introduction is too clumsy, losing clarity and relevance. Some of the observations are out of context and need to be streamlined. The objective of the study was not mentioned properly.

Methods require additional clarification on the growth rate in equation number 3. The authors also missed important variables like ecological and environmental parameters and their impact on the population. Is there any correlation between the emergence of bais and stable population growth?

I am not clear about the percentile figure of gorillas presented in the first paragraph of the result. Is this figure inclusive of perinatal mortality, disease-related deaths, infanticides, and so on?

 Line no 409-411:  Is there any evidence of lower population growth or losses prior to the establishment of the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (NNNP) in 1993?

Lines 434-462: The observations are intriguing, and one inference line should be drawn from them at the end of the second paragraph.

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: No

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Submitted filename: REVIEWERS COMMENTS.docx

Population dynamics of western gorillas at Mbeli Bai

PONE-D-22-19909R1

Dear Dr. Robbins,

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.

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Kind regards,

Bi-Song Yue, Ph.D

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE