NODF Nestedness—
Connectance—
Mean specialist links—
Mean generalist links—
NODF Index:
NODF = (Σ_pairs DFij + MT_ij)/(P(P-1)/2 + A(A-1)/2)
DFij: degree ordering
MTij: paired overlap fraction
Robustness:
Nested nets robust to extinction cascades; generalists protect specialists
NODF = (Σ_pairs DFij + MT_ij)/(P(P-1)/2 + A(A-1)/2)
DFij: degree ordering
MTij: paired overlap fraction
Robustness:
Nested nets robust to extinction cascades; generalists protect specialists
Real plant-pollinator networks are strongly nested: specialists interact only with generalists. This structure emerges from mutualistic asymmetry and confers robustness to species loss.