A complex of curves and a presentation for the mapping class group of a surface (Q1860765)

Let \(\Sigma_{g,n}\) be an oriented surface of genus \(g\) \((g\geq 2)\) with \(n\) \((n\geq 0)\) boundary components and denote by \(M_{g,n}\) its mapping class group, that is to say, the group of orientation preserving diffeomorphisms of \(\Sigma_{g,n}\) which are the identity on the boundary of \(\Sigma_{g,n}\) modulo isotopy. It is well known that \(M_{g,n}\) is finitely presented. Hatcher and Thurston defined a simply connected complex and gave a presentation for \(M_{g,n}.\) Harer and Wajnryb gave some simple presentations for \(M_{g,n}\) based on the above complex. Gervais constructed a symmetric presentation based on Wajnryb's work. On the other hand, Harvey introduced another complex of curves for \(\Sigma_{g,n}.\) In another paper, the author of the paper under review gave a presentation for the mapping class group of a handlebody by investigating the action of \(M_{g,n}\) on Harvey's complex. In this paper, the author reconstructs Gervais' symmetric presentation for \(M_{g,n}\) by investigating the action of \(M_{g,n}\) on the complex of curves for \(\Sigma_{g,n}.\)