Evolution Characteristics and Driving Mechanism of the Territorial Space Pattern in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, China

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This is an interesting study and a complete work with extensive literature review and comprehensive analyses. This paper contains timely research; both clear and readable, including its structure and message. Both the methodology and approach presented would be interesting for readers working in the field, and the discussions derived from this study are also offering some very useful insights. The authors should include a new section at the end, namely “Conclusions”, which can be reorganised by using the final paragraph of this manuscript. Otherwise, I do not have any further comments or suggestions for improvement of this paper. Overall, this study is an excellent contribution to the existing knowledge.

Author Response

尊敬的审稿人：

感谢您对我们题为“中国长江经济带领土空间格局的演化特征和驱动机制（Land-1863406）”的手稿的评论。这些意见对于修订和改进我们的文件都是有价值和有帮助的。我们仔细研究了这些意见，并作了更正，希望得到批准。我们已提交回复信，请下载并检查。谢谢。

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

This manuscript investigated territorial space pattern of the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) since 2000 and explored its formation mechanism. This area is a very important area in China, which accounting for 21% of the national area, and 40% of the national population, and more than 40% of the total economic output. The research is interesting, however, there are problems with the manuscript which would need a substantial revision.

Some suggestions are as follows: 

1. The English needs to be improved. There are many grammar errors.

e. g. you’d better make clear how to describe previous studies, singular form (line 63: Extensive research; line86: Existing research; etc.) or plural form? Line 122: exploration (explorations) of the characteristics and driving mechanisms of territorial space development in the YREB. 

2. A key limitation of this study is that what is the mechanism of the inter-decadal change in territorial space patterns?

 3. Introduction: This section listed a lot of national plans and policies. The relationship between academic topic and national policies needs to be strengthened. And you’d better listed your questions at the end of this section.

 4. Materials and Methods and Results: Why selected so many methods and indices? What is the relationship between them? How did you used so many methods and indices to investigate or find novelty? You’d better describe roles of methods and indices in Materials and Methods section, and smooth the logical sequence of them in Results section.

 5. Discussion: Most of this section is a conclusion rather than discussions on findings and what they mean. This section is rather weak. A lot of sentences in this section were subjective. You’d better strengthen explanations in the aspect of the mechanisms.

Author Response

尊敬的审稿人：

感谢您对我们题为“中国长江经济带领土空间格局的演化特征和驱动机制（Land-1863406）”的手稿的评论。这些意见对于修订和改进我们的文件都是有价值和有帮助的。我们仔细研究了这些意见，并作了更正，希望得到批准。我们已提交回信。请下载并检查它。谢谢。

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

 

The article presents the changes in the use of YREB land in recent years. The changes were related to selected variables, however, the strongest focus was on the conditions related to the slope of the terrain. The discussed issue has already been raised many times in the literature and the conclusions are not innovative. Similar relationships are observed, among others in Central and Eastern Europe, historically associated with a top-down economy at the end of the 20th century (a broader review of the literature can be made). However, the presented case is unique and important due to the dynamics of development of the analyzed region, also due to its size. The statistical methods used and the multi-level analysis are noteworthy. However, the results are presented in a very brief manner, which is probably also related to the editorial requirements. From technical and editorial remarks: the abbreviation YREB is explained in the abstract but perhaps it should be repeated in the main text. In figure 2 there is no description of the y2 axis and in figure 9 the legend is illegible.

Author Response

尊敬的审稿人：

感谢您对我们题为“中国长江经济带领土空间格局的演化特征和驱动机制（Land-1863406）”的手稿的评论。这些意见对于修订和改进我们的文件都是有价值和有帮助的。我们仔细研究了这些意见，并作了更正，希望得到批准。我们已提交回复信，请下载并检查。谢谢。

Author Response File: Author Response.docx