Breaking the spell of nestedness
Cl\`audia Payrat\'o Borr\'as, Laura Hern\'andez, and Yamir Moreno

TL;DR
This study reveals that nestedness in mutualistic networks is primarily driven by degree sequences rather than being an inherent feature, challenging previous assumptions about its ecological significance.
Contribution
The paper demonstrates through analysis of real networks that nestedness arises from degree sequences, suggesting a need to reconsider its ecological importance and origins.
Findings
Most networks do not show significant nestedness.
Nestedness is largely explained by degree sequences.
Revises previous views on the role of nestedness in ecosystems.
Abstract
Mutualistic interactions, which are beneficial for both interacting species, are recurrently present in ecosystems. Observations of natural systems showed that, if we draw mutualistic relationships as binary links between species, the resulting bipartite network of interactions displays a widespread particular ordering called nestedness. On the other hand, theoretical works have shown that a nested structure has a positive impact on a number of relevant features ranging from species coexistence to a higher structural stability of communities and biodiversity. However, how nestedness emerges and what are its determinants, are still open challenges that have led to multiple debates to date. Here, we show, by applying a theoretical approach to the analysis of 167 real mutualistic networks, that nestedness is not an irreducible feature, but a consequence of the degree sequences of both…
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