Silver Fir (Abies alba Mill.): Review of Ecological Insights, Forest Management Strategies, and Climate Change’s Impact on European Forests

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Review forests-2997129

Title: Silver Fir (Abies alba Mill.): Review of Ecological Insights, Forest Management Strategies, and Climate Change Impact on European Forests

Authors: Bledý, M., Vacek, S., Brabec, P., Vacek, Z., Cukor, J., Černý, J., Ševčík, R., Brynychová, K.

 

General

Review paper focuses on ecology, characteristics and some silvicultural characteristics of silver fir. From the promissing title (mentioning EU forests) and the introduction authors focus mainly on Czech research results and conlusions, old quotations (like 60 or 70 years) which are missing most of the recent updates and tend to generalize case studies. Some conclusions are trivial, references are used several times to backup different topics. From 341 references 29 references from Vacek et al., 9 references from Cukor et al.and 70 self quotations are used. Seriously? Make a selection or criteria, paper looks more like self promotion agenda which looses authors credibility. Proceedings and local papers should be withdrawn.

Discussion is too long and without proper separation into subchapters. Pictures/figures are not supported by references.

I suggest authors to provide subchapters and describe regeneration, density, light intensity requirements, overgrowing, resistence to environmental constraints, growth and production, mechanical stability, structure, slivicultural systems, goals etc. systematically with updated - recent research.

Close to nature forestry lacks fundamental explanation and research evidence from countries where such approach is already working. Paper needs re-writing with mandatory acknowledgement of suggested improvements.  Trivial sentences should be removed. For the reference a paper from Dobrowolska should be taken and compared – which new information are you providing?

Major major major changes required!

 

Details

Title

Is misleading. Authors should decide whether they describe conditions in Czech Rep. with some 30% of countriy's forest cover or European conditions, where more references from France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Slovenia and Croatia should be studied and involved into this paper.

Abstract should address detailed topics and subdivisions to illustrate content to the potential readers. Forgive me, but current abstract is trivial, looking like copy-paste from wikipedia. Correct and rewrite.

Keywords need updating

 

Introduction

Authors should decide if they are reviewing conditions in Czech Rep. or in Europe and should add certain references and conclusions from different countries and regions accordingly.

Repeatedly defining Czechia (lines 35, 36, 43, 45) shows that paper has not been reviewed by authors.

Ln. ...37 Define time period valid for this information.

Ln. ...37 Define zonal sites (Cz or EU?) - clarify.

Ln. ...37, 40, 41, 43  What is the share referring to? Area? Growing stock?

Ln. ...46 Provide quotation to support the statement.

Ln. ...47-49 Define lower elevations and area refering to this claim.

Ln. ...57 Refer abundance to some empiric parameter.

Ln. ...63-67 Objectives given are not followed by the text.

 

Description/ distribution

Usually description starts with area and natural abundance of species, followed by its constraints, specifics etc. Be concise – description of what?

Ln. ...70-89 Shorten the paragraph from encyclopedia-like copy paste into few sentences that explain its  features.

Ln. ...90-91 Quote author and permission for the Fig 1.

Ln. ...93 Provide quotation.

Ln. ...93-113 I am missing the description of Dinaric Mountains.

Ln. ...95-107 Provide quotations for every sentence. You are repeating information given in Fig.2.

Ln. ...96 Northern Macedonia?

Ln. ...111 Replace »complicated« with »complex«.

Ln. ...115 Colors for »habitat suitability« should be changed into more contrasting tones.

·        What is wrong with »area of natural abundance«? Europe should be re-defined, try European region. There is no Ukraine (I know silver fir grows there very good), but there are Bosnia and Herzegowina, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania even Turkey on the map.

·        Second issue is the natural distribution of silver fir. According to Euforgen the end of Dinaric Mountains represents the end of its natural distribution, where A. Boris regii sets in. So let's be concise and present thing correctly.

 

Ecological requirements

Provide subchapters and describe regeneration, density, light intensity requirements, overgrowing, resistence to environmental constraints, growth and production, mechanical stability, structure, slivicultural systems, goals etc. systematically.

Ln. ...117 Avoid anthropocentrisms. Fir does nor prefer. It grows optimally where...

Ln. ...123 You accessed the web site in 2007. Dear authors, we are in 2024.

Ln. ...133, 140 You are using books from 1947 and 1952 from Czech rep. to support info about Switzerland weather conditions today and limit light requirements. Seriously?

Ln. ...134 - 140 Define region where this claims have been made/confirmed.

Ln. ...149 It does not help to ballance, but it ballances extremes. Correct.

Ln. ...151 -152 Delete part of the sentence after the comma and quote references or table.1

Ln. ...155 -157 Accoding to what criteria? Provide quotation.

Ln. ...157 -157 Provide separate subchapter to address production and timber market systematically. Address production over the whole natural distribution area. The sentence does not provide any evidence and is out of the context.

Ln. ...161 -163 Table heading is misleading. In Table 1 predominantly Czech and Polish sites are presented without French, German, Austrian etc. sites that would represent country as a whole. Croatian site for example is in the subpannonian region and such info is misleading. The list of examples is awkward, untypical and should be country-representative.

Climate classification in table 1 and table 2 might be valid for Czech and Polish sites, but definitely not for the others. Readers are not familiar with outdated Köppen classification from 1936 (!), which is improper for comparison and generalization of climatic conditions elsewhere. Provide info about average annual air temperature for the research site (1), cumulative annual precipitation (2) for last 30 years and altitude (3) to objectively illustrate site conditions at quoted sites.

Ln. ...166 -167, 181, 185 Provide quotations.

Ln. ...233-235  Is this a general truth or does this conclusion refer to specific region? Clarify and provide proper information.

Ln. ...236 Please define cultural forests.

Ln. ...242-243 The sentence and reference are trivial; quote original research.

Ln. ...251  This statement is very bold. Did Korpel in 1966 measure components of the solar system spectra? Please provide original research citations or delete the section.

Ln. ...258, 267 Provide citation.

Ln. ...267 What about overgrowing?

Ln. ...269, 301 Replace altitudinal zones with actual altitude data.

Ln. ...293-295 Explain and define increase in complementarity (1), type of interactions (2) and species (3). How is increase in complementarity and productivity affected by radiation (3) and light use efficiency (4)?

Ln. ...296-298 This is trivial as the quotation.

Ln. ...300 Why? Provide posible cause.

Ln. ...309 Where? All over Europe or only in Cz? Provide one (1) reference from Cz and give proper quotations form all other european countries with similar problem.

Ln. ...319-321 Are trere any other factors which could cause decline? Be concise and provide exact and targeted info. Such descriptions are trivial, reduce quality and credibility of authors and presented topics and do not belong into a review paper.

Ln. ...322-323 Rephrase the sentence. Sci papers rely on facts, not beliefs.

Ln. ...337 Rephrase Sudeten system.

Ln. ...340 In area? Regeneration? Growing stock? Define.

Ln. ...346 Reference 161 describes depression in Croatian Dinaric forests, not the whole Mediterranean region. For that you need to provide more and updated references.

Ln. ...350-351 Indeed. Delete trivial sentence.

Ln. ...363 Sorry, the table shows damage predominantly in Czech republic and in Poland. Redefine Europe or rephrase the misleading sentence.  

Ln. ...350-351, 414-415 Delete trivial sentences. You are describing sliver fir, not spruce.

Ln. ...392 Define and provide evidence how and what will be crucial in terms of climate change.

Ln. ...412 In which European region? Define lower elevations and lower annual precipitation.

Ln. ...419 Provide a reference.

Ln. ...422 I disagree. Large scale events are increasing especially on silver fir natural sites (years 2014, 2017, 2018...).

 

Climate change

Topics is fragmented all over the manuscript. Try to define main causes and effects, consequences and provide research focusing on predominantly CC. Separate primary and secondary causes, especially in phytopathogogical aspect.

Ln. ...432 Define resilience and define resistence.

Ln. ...435 Reference used is outdated (2009) and does not reflect current conditions. Provide more quotations dealing with short and long term effects (such as Brang et al. 2014 etc).

Ln. ...446 Provide quotation.

Ln. ...444-446 You are using some data from Czech rep data/ reference and extrapolating conclusions with unacurate terms.

Ln. ...449-453 There are no new information in this section. Delete.

Ln. ...453-463 So many words, so little meaning.

 

Seed production

Ln. ...480 Provide quotation.

Ln. ...483 What about other countries in Europe?

Ln. ...523-527 Too many words. Tell what you want to say in one, concise sentence.

Ln. ...530-589 Text looks like recipies for successful growth in nurseries. Shorten.

 

Close to nature silviculture and CC

Ln. ...591-592 Authors miss the concept of close to nature approaches and (again) trivially and mistakenly mention site conditions. I suggest authors to define their understanding of close to nature forestry and its implication in case of silver fir silviculture. Instead of examples of cases focus should be given to management approaches, mimicking natural processes and fulfilling economic, ecological and social demands at selected/ choosen site. There are no prescriptions, relying on one case study.

By preservation of site productivity one should focus on stand production and provide reachable and realistic silvicultural goals that could be constantly monitored. Continuous forest cover seems more important than ever. What about mechanical stability? Admixture of species?

Authost fail to highlight importance of tree species in their natural habitats.

Certain silvicultural techniques and approaches should be mentionef with numerous examples from countries already practising close to nature silviculture with critical evaluation of resistence and resilience to environmental constraints and also increasing human demands. They fail to mention tending.

Ln. ...643 Why?

Ln. ...645 What about irregular shelterwood silvicultural system?

Ln. ...648 What is rich structure? Rich in layers? Composition? Spatial diversity? Readers should be properly informed.

Ln. ...648-666 This section does not tell anything new or empirically defined and should be deleted.

Ln. ...670-673 Yes. And?

 

Conclusion

Trivial, should be rewritten.

Ln. ...678 Where? All over Europe? Give evidence and provide proper quotation.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Changes, as suggested in the message for authors.

Author Response

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Review forests-2997129

Title: Silver Fir (Abies alba Mill.): Review of Ecological Insights, Forest Management Strategies, and Climate Change Impact on European Forests

Authors: Bledý, M., Vacek, S., Brabec, P., Vacek, Z., Cukor, J., Černý, J., Ševčík, R., Brynychová, K.

 

General

Review paper focuses on ecology, characteristics and some silvicultural characteristics of silver fir. From the promissing title (mentioning EU forests) and the introduction authors focus mainly on Czech research results and conlusions, old quotations (like 60 or 70 years) which are missing most of the recent updates and tend to generalize case studies. Some conclusions are trivial, references are used several times to backup different topics. From 341 references 29 references from Vacek et al., 9 references from Cukor et al.and 70 self quotations are used. Seriously? Make a selection or criteria, paper looks more like self promotion agenda which looses authors credibility. Proceedings and local papers should be withdrawn.

In the manuscript, many modifications including EU countries were made to the text. We agree with you, the number of self-citations was reduced in text, such as proceedings and local papers. Thank you for your comment.

 

Discussion is too long and without proper separation into subchapters. Pictures/figures are not supported by references.

I suggest authors to provide subchapters and describe regeneration, density, light intensity requirements, overgrowing, resistence to environmental constraints, growth and production, mechanical stability, structure, slivicultural systems, goals etc. systematically with updated - recent research.

Close to nature forestry lacks fundamental explanation and research evidence from countries where such approach is already working. Paper needs re-writing with mandatory acknowledgement of suggested improvements.  Trivial sentences should be removed. For the reference a paper from Dobrowolska should be taken and compared – which new information are you providing?

Major major major changes required!

 

Thank you very much for all your valuable comments and the opportunity to improve the manuscript together with the other three reviewers. We tried to incorporate most of your comments in such a short time. We especially tried to add more up-to-date research from other foreign countries. We also tried to add new information (most recently from a review from Dobrowolska), for example about the occurrence of new diseases and pathogens, etc. Thank you very much once again.

 

Details

Title

Is misleading. Authors should decide whether they describe conditions in Czech Rep. with some 30% of countriy's forest cover or European conditions, where more references from France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Slovenia and Croatia should be studied and involved into this paper.

Thank you very much for your valuable comments. We tried to add more information to the text along with references from other countries, such as Slovakia, France (in Tab. 1), Italy, Germany (in Tab. 2), but also from other countries.

 

Abstract should address detailed topics and subdivisions to illustrate content to the potential readers. Forgive me, but current abstract is trivial, looking like copy-paste from wikipedia. Correct and rewrite.

Abstract was rewritten based on the recommendation and specific data was added to text.

 

Keywords need updating

Keywords were update based on the comment of the reviewer.

 

Introduction

Authors should decide if they are reviewing conditions in Czech Rep. or in Europe and should add certain references and conclusions from different countries and regions accordingly.

Thank you for your comment. Throughout the text, we have tried to include foreign studies from other countries and, so that it is discussed in a European summary and only studies from the Czech Republic.

 

Repeatedly defining Czechia (lines 35, 36, 43, 45) shows that paper has not been reviewed by authors.

In this part, Czechia did not repetitively defined but a development of Silver fir representation is mentioned in this country. The paragraph has been rewritten in the more straightforward and readable way.

 

Ln. ...37 Define time period valid for this information.

Ln. ...37 Define zonal sites (Cz or EU?) - clarify.

This sentence (L37) was deleted.

 

Ln. ...37, 40, 41, 43  What is the share referring to? Area? Growing stock?

The share is referred to an area. Thank you. It has been explicitly mentioned in the text of the manuscript.

 

Ln. ...46 Provide quotation to support the statement.

We agree that references from Germany and Italy were added to the text.

 

Ln. ...47-49 Define lower elevations and area refering to this claim.

It was supplemented with text.

 

Ln. ...57 Refer abundance to some empiric parameter.

Abundance has been replaced by empirical parameter (stand density) based on the reviewers´ recommendation.

 

Ln. ...63-67 Objectives given are not followed by the text.

Chapters (2-7) and a graphical abstract provided to the editor reflect and coincide with specific objectives.

 

 

 

Description/ distribution

Usually description starts with area and natural abundance of species, followed by its constraints, specifics etc. Be concise – description of what?

Thank you. The chapter has been renamed to “Silver fir features and its distribution” to be more concise.

 

Ln. ...70-89 Shorten the paragraph from encyclopedia-like copy paste into few sentences that explain its features.

Based on the recommendation, the paragraph has been reduced to be more concise and to describe the main fir features better.

 

Ln. ...90-91 Quote author and permission for the Fig 1.

The author of Fig. 1 has been mentioned both in the description of Figure 1 and in acknowledgement. The author was contracted from an acknowledged fund, no author´s permission is related to Fig. 1.

 

Ln. ...93 Provide quotation.

Relevant references have been added to the text of the manuscript.

 

Ln. ...93-113 I am missing the description of Dinaric Mountains.

Dinaric Mountains have been added in the description of the Silver fir natural distribution.

 

Ln. ...95-107 Provide quotations for every sentence. You are repeating information given in Fig.2.

The sentences for this section are summarized at the end for a full description of white fir range. They are often very similar and the same resources are used, so we decided to keep it that way. Thank you for understanding.

 

Ln. ...96 Northern Macedonia?

Thank you for your comment. The sentence including Macedonia has been rewritten.

 

Ln. ...111 Replace »complicated« with »complex«.

Thank you. “Complicated” has been replaced by “complex”.

 

Ln. ...115 Colors for »habitat suitability« should be changed into more contrasting tones.

• What is wrong with »area of natural abundance«? Europe should be re-defined, try European region. There is no Ukraine (I know silver fir grows there very good), but there are Bosnia and Herzegowina, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania even Turkey on the map.
• Second issue is the natural distribution of silver fir. According to Euforgen the end of Dinaric Mountains represents the end of its natural distribution, where A. Boris regiisets in. So let's be concise and present thing correctly.

 We agree with the comment. Newly, the map has been changed to a better one with a natural area and an expanded area.

 

Ecological requirements

Provide subchapters and describe regeneration, density, light intensity requirements, overgrowing, resistence to environmental constraints, growth and production, mechanical stability, structure, silvicultural systems, goals etc. systematically.

Thank you. The “Ecological requirements” chapter has been renamed to “Ecological requirements and productivity. Now, the chapter is structured based on subtopics logically organized in particular paragraphs.

 

Ln. ...117 Avoid anthropocentrisms. Fir does nor prefer. It grows optimally where...

Thank you. We excluded anthropocentrisms from the manuscript, and the sentence has been modified based on the recommendation from the reviewer.

 

Ln. ...123 You accessed the web site in 2007. Dear authors, we are in 2024.

Thank you for your comment and we apologize for the typo caused by the reference manager. It has been updated in the reference list.

 

Ln. ...133, 140 You are using books from 1947 and 1952 from Czech rep. to support info about Switzerland weather conditions today and limit light requirements. Seriously?

We are very sorry, it was taken from the tree species atlas. We have newly edited the text and added an up-to-date reference.

 

Ln. ...134 - 140 Define region where this claims have been made/confirmed.

It was supplemented to text according to books.

 

Ln. ...149 It does not help to ballance, but it ballances extremes. Correct.

It was corrected according to your comment.

 

Ln. ...151 -152 Delete part of the sentence after the comma and quote references or table.1

The suggested part of the sentence has been removed from the manuscript, and Table 1 has been quoted.

 

 

 

Ln. ...155 -157 Accoding to what criteria? Provide quotation.

This part of the text was supplemented. However, this section can be deleted in the next round if you wish.

 

Ln. ...157 -157 Provide separate subchapter to address production and timber market systematically. Address production over the whole natural distribution area. The sentence does not provide any evidence and is out of the context.

Thank you. Information about the productivity from other countries (e.g. France, Slovakia) from natural distribution areas has been provided (Tab. 1).

 

Ln. ...161 -163 Table heading is misleading. In Table 1 predominantly Czech and Polish sites are presented without French, German, Austrian etc. sites that would represent country as a whole. Croatian site for example is in the subpannonian region and such info is misleading. The list of examples is awkward, untypical and should be country-representative.

Thank you for your comment. Newly another countries, such as France or Slovakia were added to this table.

 

Climate classification in table 1 and table 2 might be valid for Czech and Polish sites, but definitely not for the others. Readers are not familiar with outdated Köppen classification from 1936 (!), which is improper for comparison and generalization of climatic conditions elsewhere. Provide info about average annual air temperature for the research site (1), cumulative annual precipitation (2) for last 30 years and altitude (3) to objectively illustrate site conditions at quoted sites.

We agree, “old” references was changed to Peel et al. (2007). However, all required information is missing in some publications and cannot be supplemented. Thank you for your understanding.

 

Ln. ...166 -167, 181, 185 Provide quotations.

In L 166-167 it is connected with next sentence. In case of  L 181 and 185 refeernces was added to text. Thank you for your comment.

 

Ln. ...233-235  Is this a general truth or does this conclusion refer to specific region? Clarify and provide proper information.

This sentence was supplemented and region was added.

 

Ln. ...236 Please define cultural forests.

Definition was added to bracket in text. Moreover, this sentence was rewritten.

 

Ln. ...242-243 The sentence and reference are trivial; quote original research.

The other suitable reference about silver fir was added to text in this context (In English).

Ln. ...251  This statement is very bold. Did Korpel in 1966 measure components of the solar system spectra? Please provide original research citations or delete the section.

We agree, this section was deleted.

 

Ln. ...258, 267 Provide citation.

In both cases it is linked to the following sentence and also to the quotation.

 

Ln. ...267 What about overgrowing?

It was mentioned in text newly.

 

Ln. ...269, 301 Replace altitudinal zones with actual altitude data.

Altitudinal zones have been explained (with specific altitude range) in first mention in text.

 

Ln. ...293-295 Explain and define increase in complementarity (1), type of interactions (2) and species (3). How is increase in complementarity and productivity affected by radiation (3) and light use efficiency (4)?

Thank you. This part has been rewritten.

 

Ln. ...296-298 This is trivial as the quotation.

This part has been discarded from the text of the manuscript.

 

Ln. ...300 Why? Provide posible cause.

European beech profited (acceleration of growth, fructification and regeneration abundance) more from climate-changed growing conditions compared to other tree species and could have changed the competition relationship in favor of beech.

 

Ln. ...309 Where? All over Europe or only in Cz? Provide one (1) reference from Cz and give proper quotations form all other european countries with similar problem.

Two references from Czechia were deleted and more references from other countries, for example France or Switzerland was added to text. Thank you for your comment.

 

Ln. ...319-321 Are trere any other factors which could cause decline? Be concise and provide exact and targeted info. Such descriptions are trivial, reduce quality and credibility of authors and presented topics and do not belong into a review paper.

We agree, this sentence was deleted.

 

Ln. ...322-323 Rephrase the sentence. Sci papers rely on facts, not beliefs.

The sentence has been rephrased.

Ln. ...337 Rephrase Sudeten system.

Sudeten system has been rephrased.

 

Ln. ...340 In area? Regeneration? Growing stock? Define.

Thank you. Natural regeneration has been added to the sentence and available reference in English was added.

 

Ln. ...346 Reference 161 describes depression in Croatian Dinaric forests, not the whole Mediterranean region. For that you need to provide more and updated references.

More relevant references for Mediterranean region have been quoted in the text of the manuscript.

 

Ln. ...350-351 Indeed. Delete trivial sentence.

The sentence has been removed from the text of the manuscript.

 

Ln. ...363 Sorry, the table shows damage predominantly in Czech Republic and in Poland. Redefine Europe or rephrase the misleading sentence.

We are very sorry. For example, other publications from Italy and Germany were newly added to the table. I hope it is ok now.

 

Ln. ...350-351, 414-415 Delete trivial sentences. You are describing sliver fir, not spruce.

The sentences have been discarded from the manuscript based on the recommendation.

 

Ln. ...392 Define and provide evidence how and what will be crucial in terms of climate change.

Healthy trees can increase their production potential in cooler and higher elevation areas due to the increasing average air temperature, while damaged trees will have a higher risk of mortality due to drought in lowlands. This information was supplemented to text.

 

Ln. ...412 In which European region? Define lower elevations and lower annual precipitation.

Thank you for your comment. The misleading sentence was removed from the manuscript.

 

Ln. ...419 Provide a reference.

A relevant reference has been added to the text of the manuscript.

 

Ln. ...422 I disagree. Large scale events are increasing especially on silver fir natural sites (years 2014, 2017, 2018...).

In this context we add more information about large scale mortality of fir from Germany and Czechia in recent years, especially after droughts in 2018.

 

Climate change

Topics is fragmented all over the manuscript. Try to define main causes and effects, consequences and provide research focusing on predominantly CC. Separate primary and secondary causes, especially in phytopathogogical aspect.

The manuscript has been adjusted to consolidate fragmented topics throughout the manuscript, and a new part devoted to drought (as an expression of CC) to this chapter.

 

Ln. ...432 Define resilience and define resistence.

We are very sorry for the error in the translation, it has been corrected in the text.

 

Ln. ...435 Reference used is outdated (2009) and does not reflect current conditions. Provide more quotations dealing with short and long term effects (such as Brang et al. 2014 etc).

The outdated reference has been replaced by newer ones (Brang et al. 2014; Vitali et al. 2017; Steckel et al. 2020; Ciceu et al. 2022) that reflect better current conditions. Thank you for the recommendation.

 

Ln. ...446 Provide quotation.

See text comments below.

Ln. ...444-446 You are using some data from Czech rep data/ reference and extrapolating conclusions with unacurate terms.

We agree with you. More references in English together with explanation and examples was added to this part (comparing also with another tree species).

 

Ln. ...449-453 There are no new information in this section. Delete.

This part has been discarded from the text of the manuscript.

 

Ln. ...453-463 So many words, so little meaning.

The paragraph has been reduced to emphasize only the important points. Thank you. 

 

Seed production

Ln. ...480 Provide quotation.

It was supplemented.

 

Ln. ...483 What about other countries in Europe?

We tried to add information from other countries. Thank you for your recommendation.

 

Ln. ...523-527 Too many words. Tell what you want to say in one, concise sentence.

The paragraph has been rephrased into one sentence based on the recommendation.

 

Ln. ...530-589 Text looks like recipies for successful growth in nurseries. Shorten.

Thank you for the suggestion. The text has been significantly shorten in the more straightforward way to be better readable.

 

Close to nature silviculture and CC

Ln. ...591-592 Authors miss the concept of close to nature approaches and (again) trivially and mistakenly mention site conditions. I suggest authors to define their understanding of close to nature forestry and its implication in case of silver fir silviculture. Instead of examples of cases focus should be given to management approaches, mimicking natural processes and fulfilling economic, ecological and social demands at selected/ choosen site. There are no prescriptions, relying on one case study.

By preservation of site productivity one should focus on stand production and provide reachable and realistic silvicultural goals that could be constantly monitored. Continuous forest cover seems more important than ever. What about mechanical stability? Admixture of species?

Authost fail to highlight importance of tree species in their natural habitats.

Certain silvicultural techniques and approaches should be mentionef with numerous examples from countries already practising close to nature silviculture with critical evaluation of resistence and resilience to environmental constraints and also increasing human demands. They fail to mention tending.

The chapter has been renamed to describe better the content stated.

 

Ln. ...643 Why?

Due to specific light requirements, soil condition preferences, limited regeneration capacity, and competition with other tree species – it was supplemented to text.

 

Ln. ...645 What about irregular shelterwood silvicultural system?

Thank you for your recommendation. We add information about single-tree selection systems and irregular shelterwood methods to this chapter.

 

Ln. ...648 What is rich structure? Rich in layers? Composition? Spatial diversity? Readers should be properly informed.

 This term meant a complexly heterogeneous stand structure, but the entire structure was deleted on your recommendation.

 

Ln. ...648-666 This section does not tell anything new or empirically defined and should be deleted.

We agree with you. This section was deleted.

 

Ln. ...670-673 Yes. And?

 This part was rewritten and partially deleted.

Conclusion

Trivial, should be rewritten.

Ln. ...678 Where? All over Europe? Give evidence and provide proper quotation.

The conclusion was completely rewritten. We hope that it is no longer trivial and that you will like it as much as the readers. We tried to get him out. Thanks for all your valuable comments.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors, 

General comments:

The paper is related to one of the important tree species of European forests. As a review paper, this manuscript consists a lot of different, definitely useful, information about morphological, ecological and other features of Silver fir. Although an incredible jod was done, the manuscript needs much of improvements. As You decided to submit this paper to the section "Tree Growth and Physiological Properties under Ongoing Global Climate Change", You should more focus to climate change issues compared to other problems, that You discussed. Currently, the title of the manuscript is still not fully suit to the text content, that you presented. My opinion (of course, subjectively), You also need to add more about forest management practice related to Silver fir, or, at least, more focus to this topic. The current text form is slightly imbalanced: there are some "repeats" (for example, the points about shade-tolerance and the light preferences are met few times in different parts of the text) and more other things, which You are able to correct easily. I am sure, it will be better for You and readers, if the text structure will be more strict and consistent. Please, pay an attention to this recommendation.

Specific comments:
Abstract
lines 16-23 - this is general information. Probably, it is not suit for abstract. 
Keywords
I think, the word list is too long. Maybe better correct it like: silver fir ecology -> silver fir, climate change impact -> climate change, regeneration practices -> natural regeneration. Or somehow else.
Introduction.
The text looks like the short interpretation of the whole text: the main points will be presented further. Probably, better to focus of the general information about Silver fir, its features, importances, etc also into climate change context.
line 46 - which European countries? Please, add citation.
lines 53-54 - "air pollution" twice in one sentence. Please, rephrase.
line 55 - synergism of air pollution and pests occurrence. Hope, because of tree weakness as a reason. Please, highlight relationships between the phenomena.
line 56 - "poor management practices" Please, list it in detail.
lines 63-68 - the aims of the study are clear and promising. Please, carefully redesign the content of the text strictly according to this plan.

2. Description and distribution
This part is ok. The figures are very nice.

3. Ecological requirements and production

The text structure should be redesigned and be more consistent. Maybe, use small separate chapters for any of topics. For example, Climate requirements (latitude, altitude), Local conditiond requirements (soil, litter, light ect), Growth rates and biomass productivity (also depending on the factors above), Stand features (mix stands and relationships with other tree species), Natural regeneration, etc.

line 116 - production -> productivity?

line 153 - volume 580 m3 [56]. I guess, You meant the volume stock m3 per ha. Of course, it depends on height, but also and, maybe, more on the cross sectional basal area (at the breast height).
line 154, 161 - volume -> volume stock
lines 157-160 - what is the reason? Please, add more information, if You present this point.
line 190 - if it needed add "has"
line 192 - "slow decomposers"? It used mainly for wood-decomposing fungi and other organisms, not for trees. Or I just did not understand correctly. Anyway, worse for the potential readers.

line 227 - "selection forest". Please, explain what You mean.

line 237 - "the principal tree species in larger or smaller areas" Please, explain use the word "principal" and what you mean using "larger or smaller". Sorry, it is not so clear.

line 261 - add "i.e." before 4oC.

line 284 - shade-loving -> shade-tolerant. Isn`t?

4. Threats and diseases

I think, there is also better to make few separate chapter: Diseases, Pests, Weather events, Anthropogenic impact, Climate change impact (also depending on previous biotic and abiotic factors).

5. Impacts of ongoing climate change on well-being of fir trees
lines 457-461 - I guess, full citation is not needed [257].

6. Seed production and nursery management in context of climate change

I think, You should focus more in climate change issues in this topic. Currectly, there is not enough climate change context. 

lines 488-509 - I guess, it is not needed.

7. Close-to-nature silvicultural methods in the contxt of climate change

Currently, the title does not correspond to the text content. You should provide an information about particular silvicultural methods and forest management practices and strategies adapted to climate change. Also if You want to discuss this topic in case of European forests, You should take into account local specific features (abiotic, biotic, social, etc) of EU countries. 

Good luck!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The quality of language is sufficient. However, it may be tested by native English speakers.

Author Response

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors, 

General comments:

The paper is related to one of the important tree species of European forests. As a review paper, this manuscript consists a lot of different, definitely useful, information about morphological, ecological and other features of Silver fir. Although an incredible jod was done, the manuscript needs much of improvements. As You decided to submit this paper to the section "Tree Growth and Physiological Properties under Ongoing Global Climate Change", You should more focus to climate change issues compared to other problems, that You discussed. Currently, the title of the manuscript is still not fully suit to the text content, that you presented. My opinion (of course, subjectively), You also need to add more about forest management practice related to Silver fir, or, at least, more focus to this topic. The current text form is slightly imbalanced: there are some "repeats" (for example, the points about shade-tolerance and the light preferences are met few times in different parts of the text) and more other things, which You are able to correct easily. I am sure, it will be better for You and readers, if the text structure will be more strict and consistent. Please, pay an attention to this recommendation.

Specific comments:
Abstract
lines 16-23 - this is general information. Probably, it is not suit for abstract. 

This part was reduced, and more specific information was added to text. Thank you very much for your comments.

Keywords
I think, the word list is too long. Maybe better correct it like: silver fir ecology -> silver fir, climate change impact -> climate change, regeneration practices -> natural regeneration. Or somehow else.

We agree with you Keywords were reduced according to your comment.

Introduction.
The text looks like the short interpretation of the whole text: the main points will be presented further. Probably, better to focus of the general information about Silver fir, its features, importances, etc also into climate change context.
line 46 - which European countries? Please, add citation.

Countries together with references was supplemented.

lines 53-54 - "air pollution" twice in one sentence. Please, rephrase.

We agree with you, it was rephrased.

line 55 - synergism of air pollution and pests occurrence. Hope, because of tree weakness as a reason. Please, highlight relationships between the phenomena.

Yes, it was newly explained in the text. Thank you.

line 56 - "poor management practices" Please, list it in detail.

The examples of poor management practices for fir was added to text.

lines 63-68 - the aims of the study are clear and promising. Please, carefully redesign the content of the text strictly according to this plan.

We agree with you, thank you for your comments.

2. 
   Description and distribution
   This part is ok. The figures are very nice.

Thank you very much.

3. 
   Ecological requirements and production

The text structure should be redesigned and be more consistent. Maybe, use small separate chapters for any of topics. For example, Climate requirements (latitude, altitude), Local conditiond requirements (soil, litter, light ect), Growth rates and biomass productivity (also depending on the factors above), Stand features (mix stands and relationships with other tree species), Natural regeneration, etc.

Thank you. The “Ecological requirements” chapter has been renamed to “Ecological requirements and productivity. Now, the chapter is structured based on subtopics logically organized in particular paragraphs.

 

line 116 - production -> productivity?

“Production” was changed to “productivity”.

 

line 153 - volume 580 m3 [56]. I guess, You meant the volume stock m3 per ha. Of course, it depends on height, but also and, maybe, more on the cross sectional basal area (at the breast height).

Thank you for your comments, it was corrected.

line 154, 161 - volume -> volume stock

It was changed to “stock volume”.

lines 157-160 - what is the reason? Please, add more information, if You present this point.

More information was added to this part.

line 190 - if it needed add "has"

Thank you for your comment.

line 192 - "slow decomposers"? It used mainly for wood-decomposing fungi and other organisms, not for trees. Or I just did not understand correctly. Anyway, worse for the potential readers.

We agree with you, this sentence was rewritten: Specifically, deciduous species with rapid decomposition rates typically break down within a few months (C/N ratio = 12–25), whereas slower decomposition is observed in conifers, such as silver fir, which may take several years due to their higher C/N ratio (> 40).

 

line 227 - "selection forest". Please, explain what You mean.

Term “selection forest was explained in text in first mention. A "selection forest" refers to a forest management approach where individual trees or small groups of trees are selectively harvested over time, rather than clear-cutting entire areas. This approach promotes high biodiversity and rich vertical structure. Selection forests are also managed to maintain a continuous tree canopy.

 

line 237 - "the principal tree species in larger or smaller areas" Please, explain use the word "principal" and what you mean using "larger or smaller". Sorry, it is not so clear.

This sentence was rewritten.

 

line 261 - add "i.e." before 4oC.

 "i.e." was added before 4oC.

 

line 284 - shade-loving -> shade-tolerant. Isn`t?

“shade-loving” was changed to “shade-tolerant”.

 

4. Threats and diseases

I think, there is also better to make few separate chapter: Diseases, Pests, Weather events, Anthropogenic impact, Climate change impact (also depending on previous biotic and abiotic factors).

Thank you for your comment. In this chapter, we have tried to do this in such a way that each paragraph deals with one given topic. Expanding on individual chapters would be very comprehensive. Thank you for understanding.

 

5. Impacts of ongoing climate change on well-being of fir trees
   lines 457-461 - I guess, full citation is not needed [257].

We agree with you. It was rewritten.

6. 
   Seed production and nursery management in context of climate change

I think, You should focus more in climate change issues in this topic. Currectly, there is not enough climate change context. 

We added more information about climate change. Thank you for your comment.

 

lines 488-509 - I guess, it is not needed.

This part was significantly reduced.

 

7. Close-to-nature silvicultural methods in the contxt of climate change

Currently, the title does not correspond to the text content. You should provide an information about particular silvicultural methods and forest management practices and strategies adapted to climate change. Also if You want to discuss this topic in case of European forests, You should take into account local specific features (abiotic, biotic, social, etc) of EU countries. 

This chapter was modified. Thank you very much for your all comments and possibility to improve of our article.

Good luck!

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This manuscript, a comprehensive species profile of silver fir, includes many aspects of its life history, ecology, and management. The main thesis of the manuscript is not clear, but I believe the main objective of this review is to encourage planting and managing for silver fir in forests where spruce may be declining. The overall thesis needs to be stated explicitly and supported throughout the manuscript. 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

This manuscript requires extensive revisions of English grammar and organization. Suggestions to improve English grammar:

 

 

 

Paragraph construction is weak – the content in paragraphs stray far from the topic sentence. For example, the paragraph in lines 53-58 begins with air pollution but ends with damage from browse/game animals.  Lines 340-349 begins with “dominance in forests” and ends with “genetic variation.” This is too many ideas for a paragraph. Single sentence paragraph construction should be avoided (lines 60-61).

Some terminology is not commonly used and should be revised. For example, line 18 (abstract) refers to environmental flexibility – I think you mean plasticity?  Lines 70 -- “solid trunk” is unclear. The term “calamity” is used 4 times – it’s uncommonly used in scientific literature.  “Old age” (line 70 and 480) doesn’t fit. A tree can be old and stunted – so do you mean tall trees? Trees that are dominant or codominant crown positions? 

Avoid starting sentences and paragraphs with adverbs, such as “when,” “in,” “very” or “However.”

Author Response

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This manuscript, a comprehensive species profile of silver fir, includes many aspects of its life history, ecology, and management. The main thesis of the manuscript is not clear, but I believe the main objective of this review is to encourage planting and managing for silver fir in forests where spruce may be declining. The overall thesis needs to be stated explicitly and supported throughout the manuscript. 

Thank you for your comments. Main thesis was added to last paragraph of Introduction section.

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

This manuscript requires extensive revisions of English grammar and organization. Suggestions to improve English grammar:

 

Paragraph construction is weak – the content in paragraphs stray far from the topic sentence. For example, the paragraph in lines 53-58 begins with air pollution but ends with damage from browse/game animals.  

We agree with you. We tried to improve the construction of the paragraph. It was divided into two parts – the first one focused on air pollution, and the second one addressed game damage. Additionally, more information about each individual topic was added. Thank you for your recommendations.

 

Lines 340-349 begins with “dominance in forests” and ends with “genetic variation.”

This paragraph about “dominance in forests” was also rewritten and more information about “genetic variation and population” was supplemented to new second paragraph.

 

Some terminology is not commonly used and should be revised. For example, line 18 (abstract) refers to environmental flexibility – I think you mean plasticity?  

Yes, we though plasticity. It was changed. Thank you very much.

 

Lines 70 -- “solid trunk” is unclear.

It was deleted form text. This section was rewritten.

 

The term “calamity” is used 4 times – it’s uncommonly used in scientific literature.  

This term was rewritten to better one.

 

“Old age” (line 70 and 480) doesn’t fit. A tree can be old and stunted – so do you mean tall trees? Trees that are dominant or codominant crown positions? 

In both cases, “Old age” was changed to better term or it was specified.

Avoid starting sentences and paragraphs with adverbs, such as “when,” “in,” “very” or “However.”

We agree with you. We tried to avoid starting paragraphs with adverbs, such as “when,” “in,” “very” or “However.” Thank you very much for your all comments and possibility to improve of our article.

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

 

This review of silver fir biology, ecology, and response to climate change will be useful to forest managers. The authors have cited and reviewed the extensive literature on this species across its European distribution. The manuscript is well written overall, but I have a few questions and suggestions to improve clarity.

 

38 What area of Europe did Malka refer to in describing changes in extent of fir stands? The publication is in Czech and not available to me.  

 

Ukraine is listed in the text and in Table 1, but fir forest distribution is not shown for Ukraine in the map, Figure 2. Can this be added to the map?

 

109, 238 “forest altitudinal zones” are mentioned several times in the text. The authors might define these by giving elevation ranges for the zones in which fir occurs.

 

169 “Another prerequisite for its successful growth is sufficiently differentiated stands in which fir can maintain a long crown…” What is a long crown? Please explain, or use a different term.

 

177 “all-aged stands”. These are usually called mixed-aged stands.

 

179 “Hercynian mixture”  300 “Hercynian region” I googled Hercynian, and read that it refers to relict forests across Europe from Portugal to Poland. You might clarify your intent in using this term, as it will not be familiar to all readers.  

 

227 What is a “selection forest”? Please define, or reword.

 

250 “the different use of the components of the solar radiation spectrum is one of the causes”

CHANGE TO

the different use of the components of the solar radiation spectrum is likely one of the causes

 

261 “average June temperature was 22 °C”

Was this also the temperature in paleo- times when these spruce stands occurred? Please clarify.

 

361 List some of the animal species responsible for “game-induced damage”.

 

444-462 Are there any published examples of fir plantings done to expand its range as an adaptation to climate change? If not, what about examples of successful plantings of other tree species, as an example to illustrate the success of climate-adapted transplantation?

 

158, 506 Please describe the “bark beetle calamity.” How much damage did bark beetles cause?

 

Table 3—Is there a citation for these data?

 

510 “trend in artificial regeneration fluctuated at 4.8% for 2010–2022”

Explain how you calculated the value of 4.8%. By artificial regeneration, do you mean that this much forest was revegetated each year? Please clarify.

 

510-511 “Table 2” Change to Table 3

 

511 “regeneration of approximately 5000 ha per year.”

State the assumptions you used for fir tree density to arrive at 5000 ha.

 

512 “The annual regeneration of fir in Czechia ranges from 872 to 1635 ha”

Is this natural or artificial regeneration, or both?

 

520 “The germination of fir seeds, which depends on provenance…”

Seedling establishment and survival also depend on provenance of seeds. Based on the literature, do you have any recommendations about choosing seeds from appropriate altitudinal zones to assure establishment? This topic might be addressed in the section 7. With warming climate, seeds collected in lower altitudinal zones might be better adapted to higher zones that are now warmer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

I found a few minor issues and added suggestions to my review to improve clarity.

Author Response

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This review of silver fir biology, ecology, and response to climate change will be useful to forest managers. The authors have cited and reviewed the extensive literature on this species across its European distribution. The manuscript is well written overall, but I have a few questions and suggestions to improve clarity.

 

38 What area of Europe did Malka refer to in describing changes in extent of fir stands? The publication is in Czech and not available to me.  

We recently decided to add another reference, which unfortunately is in Czech, but is already available on the Internet, with an English abstract and summary. Thank you for your understanding. 

Ukraine is listed in the text and in Table 1, but fir forest distribution is not shown for Ukraine in the map, Figure 2. Can this be added to the map?

Figure 2 was changed. In first version there were no data for Ukraine. Thank you for your recommendation.

109, 238 “forest altitudinal zones” are mentioned several times in the text. The authors might define these by giving elevation ranges for the zones in which fir occurs.

 We agree with you. It was supplemented to text in the first mention.

 

169 “Another prerequisite for its successful growth is sufficiently differentiated stands in which fir can maintain a long crown…” What is a long crown? Please explain, or use a different term.

 Thank you for your comments. It was explained in text.

 

177 “all-aged stands”. These are usually called mixed-aged stands.

 Term “all-aged stands” was changed to “mixed-aged stands”.

 

179 “Hercynian mixture”  300 “Hercynian region” I googled Hercynian, and read that it refers to relict forests across Europe from Portugal to Poland. You might clarify your intent in using this term, as it will not be familiar to all readers.  

Hercynian mixtures = mixed forest stand, especially in mountain region, of silver fir (share 10–20%) together with European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.; 20–40%) and Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.; 50–80%), characterized by a com-plicated complex internal structure. It was supplemented to text.

227 What is a “selection forest”? Please define, or reword.

 Term “selection forest was explained in text in first mention. A "selection forest" refers to a forest management approach where individual trees or small groups of trees are selectively harvested over time, rather than clear-cutting entire areas. This approach promotes high biodiversity and rich vertical structure. Selection forests are also managed to maintain a continuous tree canopy.

 

250 “the different use of the components of the solar radiation spectrum is one of the causes”

CHANGE TO

the different use of the components of the solar radiation spectrum is likely one of the causes

We agree with your correction. It was changed.

 

261 “average June temperature was 22 °C”

Was this also the temperature in paleo- times when these spruce stands occurred? Please clarify.

This sentence was rewritten and clarified. 

 

361 List some of the animal species responsible for “game-induced damage”.

 List of man animal species was added to tis line. Thank you for your comment.

 

444-462 Are there any published examples of fir plantings done to expand its range as an adaptation to climate change? If not, what about examples of successful plantings of other tree species, as an example to illustrate the success of climate-adapted transplantation?

 The range of silver fir together with Norway spruce and European beech shows a decline under climate change scenarios. Conversely, sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.), wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis Crantz), and European white elm (Ulmus laevis Pall.) expand their range potential, and along with European hornbeam, they hold the potential to contribute significantly to the sustainable adaptation of European forests.

 

158, 506 Please describe the “bark beetle calamity.” How much damage did bark beetles cause?

This information was shortly described. Bark beetle salvage logging increased from 1.5 mil. m3 annually in the period 2003–2015 to 23 mil. m3 in 2019.

 

Table 3—Is there a citation for these data?

The citation was added to Table. Thank you for your comment.

 

510 “trend in artificial regeneration fluctuated at 4.8% for 2010–2022”

Explain how you calculated the value of 4.8%. By artificial regeneration, do you mean that this much forest was revegetated each year? Please clarify.

The sentence was rewritten to: In Czechia, the share of artificial regeneration ranged from 79.8 to 83.6%  for 2010–2022.

510-511 “Table 2” Change to Table 3

Done. Thank you very much

 

511 “regeneration of approximately 5000 ha per year.”

State the assumptions you used for fir tree density to arrive at 5000 ha.

 Newly, it was explained in the text.

 

512 “The annual regeneration of fir in Czechia ranges from 872 to 1635 ha”

Is this natural or artificial regeneration, or both?

Only artificial, it was supplemented to text.

 

520 “The germination of fir seeds, which depends on provenance…”

Seedling establishment and survival also depend on provenance of seeds. Based on the literature, do you have any recommendations about choosing seeds from appropriate altitudinal zones to assure establishment? This topic might be addressed in the section 7. With warming climate, seeds collected in lower altitudinal zones might be better adapted to higher zones that are now warmer.

Newly, we tried to add more information about provenance to text in relation to climate change.

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

 

I found a few minor issues and added suggestions to my review to improve clarity.

Thank you very much for your all comments and possibility to improve of our article.

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Authors have considered all suggestions and improved the manuscript, as suggested.

Some minor issues:

Line 459...  Rephrase chapter into "Impact of climate change".

Line 589... Chapter name should preserve the old title "Close-to-nature silvicultural SYSTEMS and climate change".

In such review one would have to define close-to natural approach, so readers would have clear idea what you mean.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353715176_Scientific_support_for_close-to-nature_forestry

Several freshly published papers describe response of regeneration along larger geo areas, which illustrate latest response of silver fir in particular in different light intensities: 

• Čater, M., Adamič, P., C., Darenova, E., (2024). Response of beech and fir to different light intensities along the Carpathian and Dinaric Mountains. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1380275

Line 642 ... Rephrase into "clear cutting".

Good luck!

Author Response

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Authors have considered all suggestions and improved the manuscript, as suggested.

Some minor issues:

Line 459...  Rephrase chapter into "Impact of climate change".

The chapter was renamed based on the recommendation.

 

Line 589... Chapter name should preserve the old title "Close-to-nature silvicultural SYSTEMS and climate change".

The chapter was renamed based on reviewer´s suggestion.

 

In such review one would have to define close-to natural approach, so readers would have clear idea what you mean.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353715176_Scientific_support_for_close-to-nature_forestry

Thank you. The definition of close-to-nature forestry has been added to the text of the manuscript.

 

Several freshly published papers describe response of regeneration along larger geo areas, which illustrate latest response of silver fir in particular in different light intensities: 

• Čater, M., Adamič, P., C., Darenova, E., (2024). Response of beech and fir to different light intensities along the Carpathian and Dinaric Mountains. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1380275

Several recently published scientific articles have been quoted in this chapter.

 

Line 642 ... Rephrase into "clear cutting".

The sentence was rephrased. Thank you.

 

Good luck!

Thank you.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors,

All previous problems were decided and the text was improved significantly.  However, the current manuscript still needs little corrections.

Line 22: Add location, for example "within the natural range in Europe".

Line 33: Only word "Ecology" is not needed. Or use "Fir ecology", for example. Also I think it is necessary to use "silver fir", "fir" or "Abies alba" in Key words, in order to a reader, who need any info about fir, will able to find your paper easily.

Line 137 precipitation level 

Line 157, 158 -> from 237 to 657,  from 20.6 to 70.0

Line 169 than enough increments -> compared to required increments

Line 206. You need specify it. Yes, C\N ratio is too low. But even under this conditions (a high air temperature, maybe a high N, P and other nutrients level) wood does not decay so fast. At least, it occurs during years, but, I am sure, during decades. Please, specify, if You talk about the decomposition of wood, please take into account, for example https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S037811271300827X 
If I am wrong and You mean the decomposition of leaf and needles litter, the duration in few months is maybe correct and no change is needed.

Line 255 Please, add a short description (in brackets) of altitudinal zones 5 and 6. 

Line 290 lie -> locate?

Line 346 I guess, "the four regions" is not needed. But if it is important, so specify which ones (add names).

Line 367 Use quotes in:  ...with "start early and grow slowly" strategy...

Line 380 ...silver fir from its natural fir stands...?

Line 385 452% -> 52%

Line 550 inter-annual

Sincerely,

Reviewer

 

Author Response

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors,

All previous problems were decided and the text was improved significantly.  However, the current manuscript still needs little corrections.

Line 22: Add location, for example "within the natural range in Europe".
Thank you. We have adjusted the sentence based on the recommendation.

                                                                           
Line 33: Only word "Ecology" is not needed. Or use "Fir ecology", for example. Also I think it is necessary to use "silver fir", "fir" or "Abies alba" in Key words, in order to a reader, who need any info about fir, will able to find your paper easily.

Thank you for your suggestions. We have replaced “Ecology” with “Fir ecology”; however, we have not added “Silver fir” or “Abies alba” to the keywords because they are already mentioned in the article title (enabling easy findability) to avoid duplicity.

 

Line 137 precipitation level

Thanks. Precipitation level is currently mentioned in the sentence. 

 

Line 157, 158 -> from 237 to 657, from 20.6 to 70.0

Thank you. It has been corrected in the text of the manuscript.

 

Line 169 than enough increments -> compared to required increments

Thanks. The proposed change has been done.

 

Line 206. You need specify it. Yes, C\N ratio is too low. But even under this conditions (a high air temperature, maybe a high N, P and other nutrients level) wood does not decay so fast. At least, it occurs during years, but, I am sure, during decades. Please, specify, if You talk about the decomposition of wood, please take into account, for example https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S037811271300827X 
If I am wrong and You mean the decomposition of leaf and needles litter, the duration in few months is maybe correct and no change is needed.

Thank you for your comment. Yes, we meant the decomposition of leaves (deciduous species) and needles (conifers), emerging from the context of the previous sentence.

 

Line 255 Please, add a short description (in brackets) of altitudinal zones 5 and 6.

We agree, it was supplemented to brackets.

 

Line 290 lie -> locate?

Thanks. The proposed change has been done.

Line 346 I guess, "the four regions" is not needed. But if it is important, so specify which ones (add names).
We have discarded “the four regions” based on the recommendation.

Line 367 Use quotes in:  ...with "start early and grow slowly" strategy...

We have given this part into the quotation marks based on the reviewer´s suggestion. Thanks.

Line 380 ...silver fir from its natural fir stands...?

The sentence has been adjusted based on the recommendation. Thank you.

Line 385 452% -> 52%

Thank you for detection of the typo. We have fixed the value.

 

Line 550 inter-annual

Thank you. We have added the hyphen based on the suggestion.

Sincerely,

Reviewer

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This manuscript provides a comprehensive species profile of silver fir that includes all aspects of its life history, ecology, and management. The main thesis of this review, to support planting and managing for silver fir in forests where spruce is declining, was clarified from the previous version.

53. “fir does not grow on permanently waterlogged soils.” Clarify that it may grow on seasonally or temporally waterlogged soils since these ideas are referenced later on.

97. The range is relatively small compared to what?  Compare to another species range. Instead of describing the range as “larger and smaller areas” describe as contiguous/isolated (pollen flow might be limited) or continuous (pollen flow likely clinal).

99. replace “south end” with “southern edge” of its natural (or native) range. 

102. replace “area” with “population.”

110. What do you mean by “it grows sparsely?” How many trees per hectare in a “sparse” stand?  Or does sparse refer to the crown health? A better descriptor is needed.

124. the word “like” is used twice. Suggestion: “ideally resembling the continental climate in Poland.”

130. Does “late frosts” refer to spring or fall frosts?

134. revise suggestion: “However, it has considerable moisture requirements and requires higher humidity than other species”

134-6. revise suggestion: “Annual precipitation in its current range varies widely from ∼700 to 2500 mm with optimum precipitation of 1500 mm, ideally not falling below 700-800 mm/year.”

138. Start sentence with “Silver fir” unless you are referring to Abies in general.

139. revise suggestion: “attaining heights of 1-2 m in Central Europe”

141. Delete “soil moisture” – redundant with soil factors.

145. “deep” not “deeper”

145. Seasonally or temporarily waterlogged soils? Seems to contradict line 53.

147-8. I don’t understand the meaning of this sentence that starts with “there is no equivalent substitute for this tree species…” Is silver fir the only tree species that can grow on these types of soils?

148-151. Sentence seems backwards. Start with “Fir positively influences soil properties because the accumulation of needles stimulates the formation of humus…”

152. replace “mixtures” with  “mixed species stands” or “mixed stands”

152. Delete “desirable” or qualify to whom it is desirable.

154. What does “it” mean?  Do you mean mixed stands or pure stands or just any silver fir?  Be more specific.

156-157. Delete “According to Table 1” – just add a reference to table 1 at the end of the sentence.

158-9. Why aren’t timber processors able to exploit silver fir timber? Please add a sentence to describe the rationale for this statement.

163. Delete “has”

164. Clarify: Bark beetle salvage logging of spruce or fir or both?

166. This sentence is confusing. I don’t think “characterized” is the right verb.  The destabilization of Central European timber market led to the increase in prices, correct? Clarify the sentence.

169-70. Replace “resistant” with “unaffected” or something equivalent.

179. I don’t understand – so it needs 15-20 years before regeneration can become codominant?

181. The term differentiated is confusing – it means something else to a geneticist.

184-185. What aspect of climate change is favorable to its growth? A longer growing season? Fewer spring frosts? Warmer winters?

195. Replace “were formed” with “evolved”

199. What is uppermost border? Do you mean at high elevations or at range edges? 

201. What does “here” refer to?

214. delete “of stands”

215. “higher water and nutrient composition” of what, trees in mixed stands? Clarify.

259. What does “interchangeability” mean in this context?

261. Delete “according to research.”

265. replace mixture with mixed stand.

270. “low” instead of “lower” ;  “high” instead of “higher”

271. Statement makes no sense without a reference to paleo winter temperatures.

287. Delete “research indicates”

288. add “in low light conditions”

310. What is “dynamically spreading beech” mean? Do you mean naturally spreading?

316. “the regeneration” – do you mean naturally regenerating fir in the understory?

329. Please clarify the time period of “industry”

331. Why is regeneration “problematic”?  Do you mean reduced?

332. What is meant by marginal effect?

357. Replace “borders” with “range edges”

366. I don’t understand the relevance of phenology being independent from drought adaptation

367. Put “start early grow slowly” in quotes.  Also – it would help to describe what this means.

368. “Resistance, resilience, recovery” is jargony – is ranking by survival or growth (height)?

374. what is the period of ecological disaster?

395. revise: “on seedlings or saplings”

401. Replace “threatening” with “detrimental”

476-480. What is the point?  The last two sentences are contradictory and unresolved.

481. delete “usually.”  “Fir is not considered a main species…” do you mean dominant or common? 

482. replace “in relation to climate change” with “because of the deleterious effects of climate change.”

490-1. I don’t understand the last two sentences.  In stands with a high proportion of fir, natural regeneration is likely the main mode of regeneration. What are the adaptation measures (second paragraph) that would need to be taken to ensure that the species persists?

520. Differences in fir fertility: do you mean production of cones, flowers or pollen? 

542. “the share of artificial regeneration ranged from79.8 to 83.6% …” how is this calculated? Is it relative to the total number of hectares or seedlings regenerated for all species?

566. 20 degrees or 2 degrees? Earlier in the sentence states seeds were stratified at 3 and 4 degrees C. 20 seems high.

569. What is the range of pH recommended for substrate?

614. Replace “violent change in the development” with “abrupt change in light regime” if that’s what you mean. The meaning of the “development” is not clear in this context

617. Replace “oppression” with “suppression”

621. Replace “oppression” with “shade”

626. Replace “in youth” with “seedling or sapling stage” depending on what you mean.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

I made numerous suggestions to improve the readability of the manuscript. 

Author Response

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This manuscript provides a comprehensive species profile of silver fir that includes all aspects of its life history, ecology, and management. The main thesis of this review, to support planting and managing for silver fir in forests where spruce is declining, was clarified from the previous version.

53. “fir does not grow on permanently waterlogged soils.” Clarify that it may grow on seasonally or temporally waterlogged soils since these ideas are referenced later on.

It was supplemented to text. Thank you for your comment.

97. The range is relatively small compared to what?  Compare to another species range. Instead of describing the range as “larger and smaller areas” describe as contiguous/isolated (pollen flow might be limited) or continuous (pollen flow likely clinal).

We agree, it was compared to other tree species, specified and references were added to text.

99. replace “south end” with “southern edge” of its natural (or native) range. 

Thanks. The proposed change has been done.

102. replace “area” with “population.”

The sentence has been adjusted based on the recommendation. Thank you.

110. What do you mean by “it grows sparsely?” How many trees per hectare in a “sparse” stand?  Or does sparse refer to the crown health? A better descriptor is needed.

We tried to clarified this term.

124. the word “like” is used twice. Suggestion: “ideally resembling the continental climate in Poland.”

The sentence has been adjusted based on the recommendation. Thank you.

130. Does “late frosts” refer to spring or fall frosts?

Late frosts are referred to spring, the information has been added to the text of the manuscript. Thanks.

134. revise suggestion: “However, it has considerable moisture requirements and requires higher humidity than other species”

The sentence has been adjusted based on the recommendation. Thank you.

134-6. revise suggestion: “Annual precipitation in its current range varies widely from ∼700 to 2500 mm with optimum precipitation of 1500 mm, ideally not falling below 700-800 mm/year.”

Thank you for the suggestion. The sentence has been rewritten based on the recommendation.

138. Start sentence with “Silver fir” unless you are referring to Abies in general.

Thanks. The proposed change has been done.

139. revise suggestion: “attaining heights of 1-2 m in Central Europe”

Thank you. We rewrote the sentence based on the suggestion.

141. Delete “soil moisture” – redundant with soil factors.

Thanks. “Soil moisture” has been removed from the sentence.

145. “deep” not “deeper”

Thanks. The proposed change has been done.

145. Seasonally or temporarily waterlogged soils? Seems to contradict line 53.

It was supplemented in text.

147-8. I don’t understand the meaning of this sentence that starts with “there is no equivalent substitute for this tree species…” Is silver fir the only tree species that can grow on these types of soils?

This sentence was rewritten.

148-151. Sentence seems backwards. Start with “Fir positively influences soil properties because the accumulation of needles stimulates the formation of humus…”

Thank you for the suggestion. The sentence has been rewritten based on the recommendation.

152. replace “mixtures” with  “mixed species stands” or “mixed stands”

Thanks. The proposed change has been done.

152. Delete “desirable” or qualify to whom it is desirable.

“Desirable” was removed from the sentence.

154. What does “it” mean?  Do you mean mixed stands or pure stands or just any silver fir?  Be more specific.

It was specified, thank you for your comment.

156-157. Delete “According to Table 1” – just add a reference to table 1 at the end of the sentence.

Done.

158-9. Why aren’t timber processors able to exploit silver fir timber? Please add a sentence to describe the rationale for this statement.

It was explained in text in bracket.

163. Delete “has”

“has” was deleted from text. Thank you

164. Clarify: Bark beetle salvage logging of spruce or fir or both?

It was specified in text.

166. This sentence is confusing. I don’t think “characterized” is the right verb.  The destabilization of Central European timber market led to the increase in prices, correct? Clarify the sentence.

Sentence was rewritten.

169-70. Replace “resistant” with “unaffected” or something equivalent.

It was changed.

179. I don’t understand – so it needs 15-20 years before regeneration can become codominant?

This sentence was rewritten.

181. The term differentiated is confusing – it means something else to a geneticist.

It was changed to “diverse”.

184-185. What aspect of climate change is favorable to its growth? A longer growing season? Fewer spring frosts? Warmer winters?

It was supplemented to text. Thank you for your comment.

195. Replace “were formed” with “evolved”

“were formed” was changed to “evolved”.

199. What is uppermost border? Do you mean at high elevations or at range edges?
200. What does “here” refer to?

High elevation. It was added to this sentence.

214. delete “of stands”

We agree, it was deleted.

215. “higher water and nutrient composition” of what, trees in mixed stands? Clarify.

Yes, in mixed stands – it was supplemented.

259. What does “interchangeability” mean in this context?

It was changed to “interspecific substitution“.

261. Delete “according to research.”

We agree – it was deleted.

265. replace mixture with mixed stand.

It was replaced. Thanks

270. “low” instead of “lower” ;  “high” instead of “higher”

Corrected in text.

271. Statement makes no sense without a reference to paleo winter temperatures.

This part was deleted.

287. Delete “research indicates”

Done.

288. add “in low light conditions”

It was added according to your recommendations.

310. What is “dynamically spreading beech” mean? Do you mean naturally spreading?

This section was rewritten.

316. “the regeneration” – do you mean naturally regenerating fir in the understory?

Yes, naturally regenerating fir. It was supplemented in text.

329. Please clarify the time period of “industry”

It is written in next sentence.

331. Why is regeneration “problematic”?  Do you mean reduced?

Yes, it was changed to “reduced”.

332. What is meant by marginal effect?

This sentence was reformulated, and term was explained in text.

357. Replace “borders” with “range edges”

We agree, it was replaced.

366. I don’t understand the relevance of phenology being independent from drought adaptation

In marginal populations of silver fir, adaptation to drought is associated with slow growth but is not influenced by phenology. This means that while these silver firs adapt to drought by growing slower, their timing of life cycles is not affected by their ability to adapt to drought. This independence between adaptation to drought and phenology could be interesting in understanding how trees respond to extreme conditions, such as drought, and how they may adapt to climate change.

367. Put “start early grow slowly” in quotes.  Also – it would help to describe what this means.

We agree, it was done.

368. “Resistance, resilience, recovery” is jargony – is ranking by survival or growth (height)?

By radial growth.

374. what is the period of ecological disaster?

The period was added.

395. revise: “on seedlings or saplings”

Revised to saplings.

401. Replace “threatening” with “detrimental”

Done.

476-480. What is the point?  The last two sentences are contradictory and unresolved.

This section was deleted.

481. delete “usually.”  “Fir is not considered a main species…” do you mean dominant or common? 

Dominant.

482. replace “in relation to climate change” with “because of the deleterious effects of climate change.”

“in relation to climate change” was “because of the deleterious effects of climate change.” Thank you

490-1. I don’t understand the last two sentences.  In stands with a high proportion of fir, natural regeneration is likely the main mode of regeneration. What are the adaptation measures (second paragraph) that would need to be taken to ensure that the species persists?

It was supplemented in bracket in text in general form.

520. Differences in fir fertility: do you mean production of cones, flowers or pollen? 

Of cones – it was supplemented to text.

542. “the share of artificial regeneration ranged from79.8 to 83.6% …” how is this calculated? Is it relative to the total number of hectares or seedlings regenerated for all species?

It is relative to the total number of hectares. It was added to text.

566. 20 degrees or 2 degrees? Earlier in the sentence states seeds were stratified at 3 and 4 degrees C. 20 seems high.

It is true. Reference was checked.

569. What is the range of pH recommended for substrate?

pH range was added according to reference.

614. Replace “violent change in the development” with “abrupt change in light regime” if that’s what you mean. The meaning of the “development” is not clear in this context

Changed, thank you for your recommendation.

617. Replace “oppression” with “suppression”

“oppression” was changed to “suppression”.

621. Replace “oppression” with “shade”

Done.

626. Replace “in youth” with “seedling or sapling stage” depending on what you mean.

It was changed, thank you very much your all comments.