PONE-D-23-42022Geology controls the distribution of a seed-eating bird: Feeding-tree selection by the glossy black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchus lathamiPLOS ONE

Dear Dr. Crowley,

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Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

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Additional Editor Comments:

Dear Dr. Crowley,

After this first review round, both reviewers believe the manuscript deserves to be published in PLoS One. Still it needs a major review before acceptance. Please take spacial care to the issues raised by both reviewers before resubmit it to PLoS One.

Sicnerely,

Daniel Silva

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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 scientific manuscript entitled “Geology controls the distribution of a seed-eating bird: Feeding-tree selection by the glossy black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchus lathami”, is interesting for addressing geological aspects that shape the presence of casuarinas and therefore the distribution of the birds. The introductory part is very well written, however it is specifically missing to describe other variables that also limit the distribution of birds, as well as to describe the process of co-evolution or adaptation of the bird in depending strictly on that food resource. The problem statement must be highlighted in a better way, that is, the problem behind it and therefore why carry out this type of study. The methodology is well described and each of the analysis carried out is addressed, as are the results, in this context the discussion is discussed in a timely manner. However, some comments to be addressed and clarified in the manuscript are described in more detail below.

Line 29-33. Although nutrients are essential, other biotic and abiotic variables are important and also contribute to the formation of rocks. How this type of geology originates historically and what time scale occurs in them to form.

L.56-59. What is the structure of the seeds and will there be a mutualistic relationship between food and bird?.

L 60-62. Address the area of distribution of the species, how environmental factors influence the presence and distribution of the species.

L 87-88. Add the compass rose to the figure, that is, the orientation.

L 89-92. The information is very extensive, we suggest synthesizing more.

L 98. It is not clear, is it a bush or a tree? In what geological situations is one and the other supported.

L 105-110. By presenting these characteristics in Casuarinas, as is the effect for other plant species that grow in the soil.

L 111-112. Briefly describe the characteristics of the species.

L 118. What historical evolutionary process or other factor caused the species to depend on this food resource.

L 134-136. This is confusing. It is indicated that there is a study as background that provides the opportunity to evaluate the variables in seeds and geology. Clarify this wording.

L 144-153. Argue if the samples used are sufficient, because, based on whom and what the bias would be or not.

L 168-170. What is the bias or not in selecting the samples in that way, argue.

L 235-241. What software was used to make these projections?

L 260-261. Support why this model was selected as residual.

L 279-283. Synthesizing the information is very extensive.

L 342-350. Synthesize the information, be more specific.

L 377-383. Synthesize the information.

L 464-471. Because it is assumed that this would have been achieved, sustain.

Reviewer #2: the article was very well thought out and written, I congratulate the authors for their effort in carrying out the analyzes and creating a well-done text.

I only have a few suggestions:

Line 45: "in several species in Australia [9, 10] and Africa [11] and North America [12]." add "," ; "in several species in Australia [9, 10], Africa [11] and North America [12]."

Line 436: here you could explain more why nitrogen influences animal abundance.

Line 441: what are these foods preferred by Amazon parrots? what types of seeds?

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: No

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Geology controls the distribution of a seed-eating bird: Feeding-tree selection by the glossy black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchus lathami

PONE-D-23-42022R1

Dear Dr. Crowley,

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,

Daniel de Paiva Silva, Ph.D.

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Additional Editor Comments (optional):

Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Comments to the Author

1. If the authors have adequately addressed your comments raised in a previous round of review and you feel that this manuscript is now acceptable for publication, you may indicate that here to bypass the “Comments to the Author” section, enter your conflict of interest statement in the “Confidential to Editor” section, and submit your "Accept" recommendation.

Reviewer #1: All comments have been addressed

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2. 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

**********

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

Reviewer #1: Yes

**********

4. 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

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5. 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

**********

6. 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: (No Response)

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7. PLOS authors have the option to publish the peer review history of their article (what does this mean?). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.

If you choose “no”, your identity will remain anonymous but your review may still be made public.

Do you want your identity to be public for this peer review? For information about this choice, including consent withdrawal, please see our Privacy Policy.

Reviewer #1: No

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