Categories of graphs for operadic structures

Abstract: We recall several categories of graphs which are useful for describing homotopy-coherent versions of generalized operads (e.g. cyclic operads, modular operads, properads, and so on), and give new, uniform definitions for their morphisms. This allows for straightforward comparisons, and we use this to show that certain free-forgetful adjunctions between categories of generalized operads can be realized at the level of presheaves. This includes adjunctions between operads and cyclic operads, between dioperads and augmented cyclic operads, and betweeen wheeled properads and modular operads.