Settle the Best Place First (IMAGE) University of Utah Caption The model predicts that as more Euro-American families settled an area and they increase competition for water and land, the agricultural quality declines (left). Newcomers then choose to settle in the next-best quality area. The observed patterns largely fit this prediction, but researchers were surprised that settlers moved into poorer-quality habitats more rapidly than you would expect (right). Credit Brian Codding, Peter Yaworsky Usage Restrictions Non commercial, with attribution License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.