Final answer:
Dispersed settlements are spread out and often occur in rural areas, while nucleated settlements are more clustered and common in towns and villages. Dispersion patterns tell us about resource distribution and species interactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dispersed and nucleated settlements are two different types of population distributions in geographic terms. A dispersed settlement pattern is characterized by individuals or groups that are spread out over a large area, such as rural areas with farms located far apart. This contrasts with a nucleated settlement, which is more clustered, with homes and buildings concentrated in a central area, commonly seen in towns and villages. Clumped, or clustered, dispersion is also the most common pattern of population dispersion, which may reflect the patchy distribution of resources in the environment. In comparison, uniform distribution, where organisms are evenly spaced, can indicate competition for scarce resources.