S-Curve Adoption

Biological Parallel

S-curves describe population growth and trait adoption: slow start, exponential middle, plateau at carrying capacity. Rabbits introduced to Australia grew from 24 in 1859 to 600 million by 1950—classic S-curve from establishment through exponential explosion to plateau at carrying capacity. Bacteria in petri dishes show the same pattern in hours: lag phase (adaptation), log phase (doubling every 20 minutes), stationary phase (nutrients depleted). Coral reef colonization follows S-curves—pioneer species establish slowly, then diversity explodes as niches multiply, plateauing when space fills. Every S-curve is an interaction between exponential potential (biology's default) and environmental constraints. The curve's shape reveals whether growth is resource-limited, predator-limited, or space-limited—and the plateau height predicts market saturation.