The current understanding of multi-stress interplay assumes stresses occur in perfect synchrony, but this assumption is rarely met in the natural marine ecosystem. To understand the interplay between non-perfectly overlapped stresses in the ocean, we manipulated different temporal scenarios of acidification and assessed their effect on mercury toxicity in a marine copepod. We found that the scenario of past acidification aggravated mercury toxicity, but personal and persistent acidification mitigated the toxicity. This is because personal and persistent acidification initiated the energy compensation to enhance growth and mercury efflux. To explore how general temporal scenarios of acidification affected multi-stress interplay, we conducted a meta-analysis on marine animals and found that scenarios significantly changed the toxicity of several other metals. Our study thus demonstrates that time and duration of stresses modulate multi-stress interplay in the marine ecosystem, and suggests that future studies should move beyond the scenario of perfect synchrony.

The comment by Sánchez-Tójar et al. (2020, Ecol Lett) questioned the methodology, transparency, and conclusion of our study (Yin et al. 2019, Ecol Lett, 22, 1976). The comment has overlooked important evolutionary assumptions in their reanalysis, and the issues raised were in fact dealt with through the peer-review process. Far from being biased, the key conclusion of our meta-analysis still stands; transgenerational effects are largely adaptive.

Sánchez-Tójar et al. (2020, Ecol Lett) questioned the methodology, transparency and conclusion of our study (Yin et al. 2019, Ecol Lett, 22, 1976). I feel that these arguments ignore critical assumptions and are based on the misunderstanding of our peer-review process. General does not mean always; the jury of our study is in revealing when and where a transgenerational effect is beneficial, which enlightens future research.

Sánchez-Tójar et al. (2020, Ecol Lett) question the methodology, transparency and conclusion of our study (Yin et al. 2019, Ecol Lett, 22, 1976). I feel that these arguments ignore critical assumptions and are based on a misunderstanding of our peer-review process. General does not mean always; the jury is in deciding when and where a transgenerational effect is beneficial, which enlightens future research.