Reader Comments

Post a new comment on this article

Referee comments: Referee 1

Posted by PLOS_ONE_Group on 25 Feb 2008 at 12:01 GMT

Referee 1's review:

I believe that the paper is an important contribution to the understanding of the diversity and speciation of Stygiocaris. The paper is well written and scientifically sound.

I think that the contribution that this type of study could have on the understanding of whole ecosystems could be even more stressed, especially in the abstract, to make the paper more interesting to the common reader.

Do you believe that new species or subspecies will develop from the north south forms of Stygiocaris lancifera?

**********
N.B. These are the comments made by the referee when reviewing an earlier version of this paper. Prior to publication the manuscript has been revised in light of these comments and to address other editorial requirements.

RE: Referee comments: Referee 1

penguintim replied to PLOS_ONE_Group on 26 Feb 2008 at 03:40 GMT

The responses to these comments:

Reviewer #1 (Remarks for the Author):

1) I think that the contribution that this type of study could have on the understanding of whole ecosystems could be even more stressed, especially in the abstract, to make the paper more interesting to the common reader.

RESPONSE:
We weren’t entirely clear what the reviewer was referring to here. Anyway, we have added another sentence to the abstract (lines 23-24) and a paragraph to the introduction (lines 178-183).


2) Do you believe that new species or subspecies will develop from the north south forms of Stygiocaris lancifera?

RESPONSE:
This is entirely unpredictable and unknowable. If the two populations continue to remain geographically isolated, then yes, if not, then maybe yes, maybe no. Either way it is beyond our ability to comment on this here.