James Nichols, Ph.D.
Dr. Jim Nichols conducts research on animal population dynamics and management
Recent Accomplishments
Education
- B.S. Wake Forest University, Biology, 1971
- M.S. Louisiana State University, Wildlife Management, 1973
- Ph.D. Michigan State University, Wildlife Ecology, 1976
Professional Studies/Experience
- Adaptive management and assessment of habitat changes on migratory birds
- Development of models of mallard population dynamics for adaptive harvest management
- Development of methods to estimate parameters associated with animal population dynamics
- Statistical methods for species richness estimation
- Technical Assistance -Tiger Monitoring and Population Research
- Development of methods for estimating patch occupancy and patch-dynamic parameters from detection-nondetection survey data
- Development of methods to estimate species richness and community-dynamic parameters from species list data
Mentorship/Outreach
Professional societies/affiliations/committees/editorial boardsScientific/Oral Presentations, Abstracts
Honors, awards, recognition, elected offices
- 2005 - U.S. Presidential Rank Award (Meritorious Senior Professional)
- 2004 - U.S. Geological Survey Meritorious Service Award
- 2004 - IFAS Scholar Award, University of Florida
- 1998 - Promoted to Senior Scientist, U.S. Geological Survey
- 1991 - The George W. Snedecor Award of the American Statistical Association
- 1991 - The Wildlife Society's Wildlife Publication Award for Monograph
- 1984 - Southeastern Section of the Wildlife Society, Outstanding Publication Award
Scientific/Oral Presentations, Abstracts
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 401
Modelling occurrence and abundance of species when detection is imperfect
Relationships between species abundance and occupancy are of considerable interest in metapopulation biology and in macroecology. Such relationships may be described concisely using probability models that characterize variation in abundance of a species. However, estimation of the parameters of these models in most ecological problems is impaired by imperfect detection. When organisms are detecte
Authors
J. Andrew Royle, James D. Nichols, Marc Kery
Individual quality, survival variation and patterns of phenotypic selection on body condition and timing of nesting in birds
Questions about individual variation in “quality” and fitness are of great interest to evolutionary and population ecologists. Such variation can be investigated using either a random effects approach or an approach that relies on identifying observable traits that are themselves correlated with fitness components. We used the latter approach with data from 1,925 individual females of three specie
Authors
P. Blums, James D. Nichols, James E. Hines, Mark S. Lindberg, A. Mednis
Assessing spatial coupling in complex population dynamics using mutual prediction and continuity statistics
A number of important questions in ecology involve the possibility of interactions or ?coupling? among potential components of ecological systems. The basic question of whether two components are coupled (exhibit dynamical interdependence) is relevant to investigations of movement of animals over space, population regulation, food webs and trophic interactions, and is also useful in the design of
Authors
J.M. Nichols, L. Moniz, J. D. Nichols, L.M. Pecora, E. Cooch
Approaches for the direct estimation of rate of increase in population size using capture-recapture data
Recent developments in the modeling of capture-recapture data permit the direct estimation and modeling of population growth rate Pradel (1996). Resulting estimates reflect changes in numbers of birds on study areas, and such changes result from movement as well as survival and reproductive recruitment. One measure of the 'importance' of a demographic vital rate to population growth is based on
Authors
J. D. Nichols, T. Scott Sillett, J. E. Hines, Richard T. Holmes
Statistical approaches to the analysis of point count data: A little extra information can go a long way
Point counts are a standard sampling procedure for many bird species, but lingering concerns still exist about the quality of information produced from the method. It is well known that variation in observer ability and environmental conditions can influence the detection probability of birds in point counts, but many biologists have been reluctant to abandon point counts in favor of more intensi
Authors
G.L. Farnsworth, J. D. Nichols, J.R. Sauer, S.G. Fancy, K. H. Pollock, S.A. Shriner, T.R. Simons
General constraints on sampling wildlife on FIA plots
This paper reviews the constraints to sampling wildlife populations at FIA points. Wildlife sampling programs must have well-defined goals and provide information adequate to meet those goals. Investigators should choose a State variable based on information needs and the spatial sampling scale. We discuss estimation-based methods for three State variables: species richness, abundance, and patc
Authors
L.L. Bailey, J.R. Sauer, J. D. Nichols, P.H. Geissler
Estimating the number of animals in wildlife populations
INTRODUCTION In 1938, Howard M. Wight devoted 9 pages, which was an entire chapter in the first wildlife management techniques manual, to what he termed 'census' methods. As books and chapters such as this attest, the volume of literature on this subject has grown tremendously. Abundance estimation remains an active area of biometrical research, as reflected in the many differences between thi
Authors
R.A. Lancia, W. L. Kendall, K. H. Pollock, J. D. Nichols
Estimation of sex-specific survival from capture-recapture data when sex is not always known
Many animals lack obvious sexual dimorphism, making assignment of sex difficult even for observed or captured animals. For many such species it is possible to assign sex with certainty only at some occasions; for example, when they exhibit certain types of behavior. A common approach to handling this situation in capture-recapture studies has been to group capture histories into those of animals e
Authors
J. D. Nichols, W. L. Kendall, J. E. Hines, J. A. Spendelow
Testing life history predictions in a long-lived seabird: A population matrix approach with improved parameter estimation
Life history theory and associated empirical generalizations predict that population growth rate (λ) in long-lived animals should be most sensitive to adult survival; the rates to which λ is most sensitive should be those with the smallest temporal variances; and stochastic environmental events should most affect the rates to which λ is least sensitive. To date, most analyses attempting to examine
Authors
P.F. Doherty, E.A. Schreiber, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines, W. A. Link, G.A. Schenk, R.W. Schreiber
Tigers and their prey: Predicting carnivore densities from prey abundance
The goal of ecology is to understand interactions that determine the distribution and abundance of organisms. In principle, ecologists should be able to identify a small number of limiting resources for a species of interest, estimate densities of these resources at different locations across the landscape, and then use these estimates to predict the density of the focal species at these locations
Authors
K. U. Karanth, J. D. Nichols, S. Kumar, W. A. Link, J. E. Hines
Investigating species co-occurrence patterns when species are detected imperfectly
1. Over the last 30 years there has been a great deal of interest in investigating patterns of species co-occurrence across a number of locations, which has led to the development of numerous methods to determine whether there is evidence that a particular pattern may not have occurred by random chance. 2. A key aspect that seems to have been largely overlooked is the possibility that species may
Authors
D.I. MacKenzie, L.L. Bailey, J. D. Nichols
On the estimation of dispersal and movement of birds
The estimation of dispersal and movement is important to evolutionary and population ecologists, as well as to wildlife managers. We review statistical methodology available to estimate movement probabilities. We begin with cases where individual birds can be marked and their movements estimated with the use of multisite capture-recapture methods. Movements can be monitored either directly, usi
Authors
W. L. Kendall, J. D. Nichols
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 401
Modelling occurrence and abundance of species when detection is imperfect
Relationships between species abundance and occupancy are of considerable interest in metapopulation biology and in macroecology. Such relationships may be described concisely using probability models that characterize variation in abundance of a species. However, estimation of the parameters of these models in most ecological problems is impaired by imperfect detection. When organisms are detecte
Authors
J. Andrew Royle, James D. Nichols, Marc Kery
Individual quality, survival variation and patterns of phenotypic selection on body condition and timing of nesting in birds
Questions about individual variation in “quality” and fitness are of great interest to evolutionary and population ecologists. Such variation can be investigated using either a random effects approach or an approach that relies on identifying observable traits that are themselves correlated with fitness components. We used the latter approach with data from 1,925 individual females of three specie
Authors
P. Blums, James D. Nichols, James E. Hines, Mark S. Lindberg, A. Mednis
Assessing spatial coupling in complex population dynamics using mutual prediction and continuity statistics
A number of important questions in ecology involve the possibility of interactions or ?coupling? among potential components of ecological systems. The basic question of whether two components are coupled (exhibit dynamical interdependence) is relevant to investigations of movement of animals over space, population regulation, food webs and trophic interactions, and is also useful in the design of
Authors
J.M. Nichols, L. Moniz, J. D. Nichols, L.M. Pecora, E. Cooch
Approaches for the direct estimation of rate of increase in population size using capture-recapture data
Recent developments in the modeling of capture-recapture data permit the direct estimation and modeling of population growth rate Pradel (1996). Resulting estimates reflect changes in numbers of birds on study areas, and such changes result from movement as well as survival and reproductive recruitment. One measure of the 'importance' of a demographic vital rate to population growth is based on
Authors
J. D. Nichols, T. Scott Sillett, J. E. Hines, Richard T. Holmes
Statistical approaches to the analysis of point count data: A little extra information can go a long way
Point counts are a standard sampling procedure for many bird species, but lingering concerns still exist about the quality of information produced from the method. It is well known that variation in observer ability and environmental conditions can influence the detection probability of birds in point counts, but many biologists have been reluctant to abandon point counts in favor of more intensi
Authors
G.L. Farnsworth, J. D. Nichols, J.R. Sauer, S.G. Fancy, K. H. Pollock, S.A. Shriner, T.R. Simons
General constraints on sampling wildlife on FIA plots
This paper reviews the constraints to sampling wildlife populations at FIA points. Wildlife sampling programs must have well-defined goals and provide information adequate to meet those goals. Investigators should choose a State variable based on information needs and the spatial sampling scale. We discuss estimation-based methods for three State variables: species richness, abundance, and patc
Authors
L.L. Bailey, J.R. Sauer, J. D. Nichols, P.H. Geissler
Estimating the number of animals in wildlife populations
INTRODUCTION In 1938, Howard M. Wight devoted 9 pages, which was an entire chapter in the first wildlife management techniques manual, to what he termed 'census' methods. As books and chapters such as this attest, the volume of literature on this subject has grown tremendously. Abundance estimation remains an active area of biometrical research, as reflected in the many differences between thi
Authors
R.A. Lancia, W. L. Kendall, K. H. Pollock, J. D. Nichols
Estimation of sex-specific survival from capture-recapture data when sex is not always known
Many animals lack obvious sexual dimorphism, making assignment of sex difficult even for observed or captured animals. For many such species it is possible to assign sex with certainty only at some occasions; for example, when they exhibit certain types of behavior. A common approach to handling this situation in capture-recapture studies has been to group capture histories into those of animals e
Authors
J. D. Nichols, W. L. Kendall, J. E. Hines, J. A. Spendelow
Testing life history predictions in a long-lived seabird: A population matrix approach with improved parameter estimation
Life history theory and associated empirical generalizations predict that population growth rate (λ) in long-lived animals should be most sensitive to adult survival; the rates to which λ is most sensitive should be those with the smallest temporal variances; and stochastic environmental events should most affect the rates to which λ is least sensitive. To date, most analyses attempting to examine
Authors
P.F. Doherty, E.A. Schreiber, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines, W. A. Link, G.A. Schenk, R.W. Schreiber
Tigers and their prey: Predicting carnivore densities from prey abundance
The goal of ecology is to understand interactions that determine the distribution and abundance of organisms. In principle, ecologists should be able to identify a small number of limiting resources for a species of interest, estimate densities of these resources at different locations across the landscape, and then use these estimates to predict the density of the focal species at these locations
Authors
K. U. Karanth, J. D. Nichols, S. Kumar, W. A. Link, J. E. Hines
Investigating species co-occurrence patterns when species are detected imperfectly
1. Over the last 30 years there has been a great deal of interest in investigating patterns of species co-occurrence across a number of locations, which has led to the development of numerous methods to determine whether there is evidence that a particular pattern may not have occurred by random chance. 2. A key aspect that seems to have been largely overlooked is the possibility that species may
Authors
D.I. MacKenzie, L.L. Bailey, J. D. Nichols
On the estimation of dispersal and movement of birds
The estimation of dispersal and movement is important to evolutionary and population ecologists, as well as to wildlife managers. We review statistical methodology available to estimate movement probabilities. We begin with cases where individual birds can be marked and their movements estimated with the use of multisite capture-recapture methods. Movements can be monitored either directly, usi
Authors
W. L. Kendall, J. D. Nichols