We show optimal lower bounds for spanning forest computation in two different
models:
- One wants a data structure for fully dynamic spanning forest in which
updates can insert or delete edges amongst a base set of n vertices. The sole
allowed query asks for a spanning forest, which the data structure should
successfully answer with some given (potentially small) constant probability
ϵ>0. We prove that any such data structure must use $\Omega(n\log^3
n)$ bits of memory.
- There is a referee and n vertices in a network sharing public randomness,
and each vertex knows only its neighborhood; the referee receives no input. The
vertices each send a message to the referee who then computes a spanning forest
of the graph with constant probability ϵ>0. We prove the average
message length must be Ω(log3n) bits.
Both our lower bounds are optimal, with matching upper bounds provided by the
AGM sketch [AGM12] (which even succeeds with probability $1 -
1/poly(n)$). Furthermore, for the first setting we show optimal lower
bounds even for low failure probability δ, as long as $\delta >
2^{-n^{1-\epsilon}}$.