Pareto Principle

Biological Parallel

Power law distributions pervade biology—a minority drives the majority. Amazonian forests show extreme dominance: 227 hyperdominant species (1.4% of total species) account for 50% of all trees. In most ant species, a single queen produces all reproductive offspring while workers remain sterile—though wood ants show 20-25% of eggs laid by workers, demonstrating variation in reproductive monopolies. Ocean primary production concentrates dramatically: cyanobacteria account for over 60% of equatorial ocean productivity despite representing a minority of species. This pattern emerges from multiplicative growth processes and preferential attachment: early advantages compound. The biggest trees capture the most light and grow faster. Dominant individuals secure the best territories and produce more offspring. Unequal distributions aren't aberrations—they're the natural outcome when success enables more success.