Nestedness in mutualistic networks

TL;DR

This paper clarifies the role of nestedness in mutualistic networks, emphasizing the importance of network structure and correcting previous misconceptions about its effects on biodiversity.

Contribution

It highlights the misapplication of formulas from fully connected networks to sparse empirical networks, resolving contradictions in previous simulation and analytical results.

Findings

Nestedness influences biodiversity in mutualistic networks.

Incorrect application of formulas led to previous contradictions.

Proper analysis aligns simulations with analytical predictions.

Abstract

James et al. (2012) presented simulations that apparently falsify the analytical result by Bastolla et al. (2009), who showed that nested mutualistic interactions decrease interspecific competition and increase biodiversity in model ecosystems. This contradiction, however, mainly stems from the incorrect application of formulas derived for fully connected networks to empirical, sparse networks.