Content of review 1, reviewed on March 06, 2024

The article "Increasing temperature threatens post-fire autosuccessional dynamics of a Mediterranean obligate seeder" presents a very good peace of research conducted through field experiments simulating the effects of temperature increase (climate change) on the recruitment rate of Pinus halepensis seedlings in wildfire scenarios. It represents innovative research with a well-executed background analysis and well-formulated hypotheses. The experimental design is appropriate and vary well-established. Data treatments are timely, and the description of the results is clear and concise, highlighting significant findings regarding the impact of temperature increase on a reduction in seed germination percentage, the influence of the season on the increased emergence of pine seedlings, and the high mortality of seedlings in response to increased aridity, especially those of smaller initial size. The conclusions obtained align well with the objectives outlined in the study. A review is recommended for certain parts of the discussion (see minor comments).
The work is well-written and is clearly understandable.

The following minor changes are proposed.
Pg 5 ln 91. Explain the potential effects of seed size on seedlings size.
Pg 8 ln 165.- What is the reason for sowing at such a high density per subunit, reaching 50 seeds per 50 cm2? What are they trying to simulate?
Pg 8 ln 166.- Although it is explained in Table S1, it should be referenced in the text of the article why there is not a total of 8000 seeds overall.
Discussion section:
1st) Explain in the discussion section why the medium treelets exhibit a completely opposite pattern compared to the rest in Fig. 5A.
2nd) Explian why there are no effects of the initial Aleppo pine seedlings size on their growth rates
3rd) Pg 16 ln 340. Discuss the implications on population dynamics of losing the germination window during autumn in areas with clear effects of climate change. Could be compensate with the winter opportunity due to its mild conditions?
4th) Do the authors consider that the statements in lines 349-352 represent the reality of the functioning of soil seed banks in pines, given that these soil banks are transient and considering that the majority of wildfires occur in summer?

Figure S1.
Clearly explain how the accumulated precipitation data were obtained and the significance of the bars with the 4 different colors.

Source

    © 2024 the Reviewer.

References

    Mara, P., Gil, T., Xavier, M., G., A. J., Lluis, C. 2024. Increasing temperature threatens post-fire auto-successional dynamics of a Mediterranean obligate seeder. Journal of Ecology.