Unicellular maps and filtrations of the mapping class group

Abstract

This article first answers to questions about connectedness of a new family of graphs on unicellular maps. Answering these questions goes through a description of the mapping class group as surgeries on unicellular maps. We also show how unicellular maps encode subgroups of the mapping group and provide filtrations of the mapping class group. These facts add a layer on the ubiquitous character of unicellular maps.