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
Use of multiple dispersal pathways facilitates amphibian persistence in stream networks
Although populations of amphibians are declining worldwide, there is no evidence that salamanders occupying small streams are experiencing enigmatic declines, and populations of these species seem stable. Theory predicts that dispersal through multiple pathways can stabilize populations, preventing extinction in habitat networks. However, empirical data to support this prediction are absent for mo
Authors
Grant E.H. Campbell, J. D. Nichols, W.H. Lowe, W.F. Fagan
Multistate modeling of habitat dynamics: Factors affecting Florida scrub transition probabilities
Many ecosystems are influenced by disturbances that create specific successional states and habitat structures that species need to persist. Estimating transition probabilities between habitat states and modeling the factors that influence such transitions have many applications for investigating and managing disturbance-prone ecosystems. We identify the correspondence between multistate capture-r
Authors
D.R. Breininger, J. D. Nichols, B.W. Duncan, Eric D. Stolen, G.M. Carter, D.K. Hunt, J.H. Drese
Simultaneous modeling of habitat suitability, occupancy, and relative abundance: African elephants in Zimbabwe
The recent development of statistical models such as dynamic site occupancy models provides the opportunity to address fairly complex management and conservation problems with relatively simple models. However, surprisingly few empirical studies have simultaneously modeled habitat suitability and occupancy status of organisms over large landscapes for management purposes. Joint modeling of these c
Authors
Julien Martin, Simon Chamaille-Jammes, James D. Nichols, Herve Fritz, James E. Hines, Christopher J. Fonnesbeck, Darryl I. MacKenzie, Larissa L. Bailey
Genetic introgression and the survival of Florida panther kittens
Estimates of survival for the young of a species are critical for population models. These models can often be improved by determining the effects of management actions and population abundance on this demographic parameter. We used multiple sources of data collected during 1982–2008 and a live-recapture dead-recovery modeling framework to estimate and model survival of Florida panther (Puma conco
Authors
Jeffrey A. Hostetler, David P. Onorato, James D. Nichols, Warren E. Johnson, Melody E. Roelke, Stephen J. O'Brien, Deborah Jansen, Madan K. Oli
Population dynamics of spotted owls in the Sierra Nevada, California
The California spotted owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis) is the only spotted owl subspecies not listed as threatened or endangered under the United States Endangered Species Act despite petitions to list it as threatened. We conducted a meta-analysis of population data for 4 populations in the southern Cascades and Sierra Nevada, California, USA, from 1990 to 2005 to assist a listing evaluatio
Authors
J.A. Blakesley, M.E. Seamans, M.M. Conner, A.B. Franklin, Gary C. White, R. J. Gutierrez, J. E. Hines, J. D. Nichols, T.E. Munton, D.W.H. Shaw, J.J. Keane, G.N. Steger, T. L. McDonald
Occurrence and distribution of Indian primates
Global and regional species conservation efforts are hindered by poor distribution data and range maps. Many Indian primates face extinction, but assessments of population status are hindered by lack of reliable distribution data. We estimated the current occurrence and distribution of 15 Indian primates by applying occupancy models to field data from a country-wide survey of local experts. We mod
Authors
K.K. Karanth, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines
Standards for documenting and monitoring bird reintroduction projects
It would be much easier to assess the effectiveness of different reintroduction methods, and so improve the success of reintroductions, if there was greater standardization in documentation of the methods and outcomes. We suggest a series of standards for documenting and monitoring the methods and outcomes associated with reintroduction projects for birds. Key suggestions are: documenting the plan
Authors
W.J. Sutherland, D. Armstrong, S.H.M. Butchart, J.M. Earnhardt, J. Ewen, I. Jamieson, C.G. Jones, R. Lee, P. Newbery, J. D. Nichols, K.A. Parker, F. Sarrazin, P.J. Seddon, N. Shah, V. Tatayah
Filling a void: abundance estimation of North American populations of arctic geese using hunter recoveries
We consider use of recoveries of marked birds harvested by hunters, in conjunction with continental harvest estimates, for drawing inferences about continental abundance of a select number of goose species. We review assumptions of this method, a version of the Lincoln?Petersen approach, and consider its utility as a tool for making decisions about harvest management in comparison to current sour
Authors
R.T. Alisauskas, K.L. Drake, J. D. Nichols
Inferences about landbird abundance from count data: recent advances and future directions
We summarize results of a November 2006 workshop dealing with recent research on the estimation of landbird abundance from count data. Our conceptual framework includes a decomposition of the probability of detecting a bird potentially exposed to sampling efforts into four separate probabilities. Primary inference methods are described and include distance sampling, multiple observers, time of d
Authors
J. D. Nichols, L. Thomas, P.B. Conn
Estimating latent time of maturation and survival costs of reproduction in continuous time from capture-recapture data
In many species, age or time of maturation and survival costs of reproduction may vary substantially within and among populations. We present a capture-mark-recapture model to estimate the latent individual trait distribution of time of maturation (or other irreversible transitions) as well as survival differences associated with the two states (representing costs of reproduction). Maturation ca
Authors
T. Ergon, Nigel G. Yoccoz, J. D. Nichols
Dynamic models for problems of species occurrence with multiple states
Recent extensions of occupancy modeling have focused not only on the distribution of species over space, but also on additional state variables (e.g., reproducing or not, with or without disease organisms, relative abundance categories) that provide extra information about occupied sites. These biologist-driven extensions are characterized by ambiguity in both species presence and correct state cl
Authors
Darryl I. MacKenzie, James D. Nichols, Mark E Seamans, R. J. Gutierrez
Dynamic multistate site occupancy models to evaluate hypotheses relevant to conservation of Golden Eagles in Denali National Park, Alaska
The recent development of multistate site occupancy models offers great opportunities to frame and solve decision problems for conservation that can be viewed in terms of site occupancy. These models have several characteristics (e.g., they account for detectability) that make them particularly well suited for addressing management and conservation problems. We applied multistate site occupancy mo
Authors
Julien Martin, Carol L. McIntyre, James E. Hines, James D. Nichols, Joel A. Schmutz, Margaret C. MacCluskie
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 401
Use of multiple dispersal pathways facilitates amphibian persistence in stream networks
Although populations of amphibians are declining worldwide, there is no evidence that salamanders occupying small streams are experiencing enigmatic declines, and populations of these species seem stable. Theory predicts that dispersal through multiple pathways can stabilize populations, preventing extinction in habitat networks. However, empirical data to support this prediction are absent for mo
Authors
Grant E.H. Campbell, J. D. Nichols, W.H. Lowe, W.F. Fagan
Multistate modeling of habitat dynamics: Factors affecting Florida scrub transition probabilities
Many ecosystems are influenced by disturbances that create specific successional states and habitat structures that species need to persist. Estimating transition probabilities between habitat states and modeling the factors that influence such transitions have many applications for investigating and managing disturbance-prone ecosystems. We identify the correspondence between multistate capture-r
Authors
D.R. Breininger, J. D. Nichols, B.W. Duncan, Eric D. Stolen, G.M. Carter, D.K. Hunt, J.H. Drese
Simultaneous modeling of habitat suitability, occupancy, and relative abundance: African elephants in Zimbabwe
The recent development of statistical models such as dynamic site occupancy models provides the opportunity to address fairly complex management and conservation problems with relatively simple models. However, surprisingly few empirical studies have simultaneously modeled habitat suitability and occupancy status of organisms over large landscapes for management purposes. Joint modeling of these c
Authors
Julien Martin, Simon Chamaille-Jammes, James D. Nichols, Herve Fritz, James E. Hines, Christopher J. Fonnesbeck, Darryl I. MacKenzie, Larissa L. Bailey
Genetic introgression and the survival of Florida panther kittens
Estimates of survival for the young of a species are critical for population models. These models can often be improved by determining the effects of management actions and population abundance on this demographic parameter. We used multiple sources of data collected during 1982–2008 and a live-recapture dead-recovery modeling framework to estimate and model survival of Florida panther (Puma conco
Authors
Jeffrey A. Hostetler, David P. Onorato, James D. Nichols, Warren E. Johnson, Melody E. Roelke, Stephen J. O'Brien, Deborah Jansen, Madan K. Oli
Population dynamics of spotted owls in the Sierra Nevada, California
The California spotted owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis) is the only spotted owl subspecies not listed as threatened or endangered under the United States Endangered Species Act despite petitions to list it as threatened. We conducted a meta-analysis of population data for 4 populations in the southern Cascades and Sierra Nevada, California, USA, from 1990 to 2005 to assist a listing evaluatio
Authors
J.A. Blakesley, M.E. Seamans, M.M. Conner, A.B. Franklin, Gary C. White, R. J. Gutierrez, J. E. Hines, J. D. Nichols, T.E. Munton, D.W.H. Shaw, J.J. Keane, G.N. Steger, T. L. McDonald
Occurrence and distribution of Indian primates
Global and regional species conservation efforts are hindered by poor distribution data and range maps. Many Indian primates face extinction, but assessments of population status are hindered by lack of reliable distribution data. We estimated the current occurrence and distribution of 15 Indian primates by applying occupancy models to field data from a country-wide survey of local experts. We mod
Authors
K.K. Karanth, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines
Standards for documenting and monitoring bird reintroduction projects
It would be much easier to assess the effectiveness of different reintroduction methods, and so improve the success of reintroductions, if there was greater standardization in documentation of the methods and outcomes. We suggest a series of standards for documenting and monitoring the methods and outcomes associated with reintroduction projects for birds. Key suggestions are: documenting the plan
Authors
W.J. Sutherland, D. Armstrong, S.H.M. Butchart, J.M. Earnhardt, J. Ewen, I. Jamieson, C.G. Jones, R. Lee, P. Newbery, J. D. Nichols, K.A. Parker, F. Sarrazin, P.J. Seddon, N. Shah, V. Tatayah
Filling a void: abundance estimation of North American populations of arctic geese using hunter recoveries
We consider use of recoveries of marked birds harvested by hunters, in conjunction with continental harvest estimates, for drawing inferences about continental abundance of a select number of goose species. We review assumptions of this method, a version of the Lincoln?Petersen approach, and consider its utility as a tool for making decisions about harvest management in comparison to current sour
Authors
R.T. Alisauskas, K.L. Drake, J. D. Nichols
Inferences about landbird abundance from count data: recent advances and future directions
We summarize results of a November 2006 workshop dealing with recent research on the estimation of landbird abundance from count data. Our conceptual framework includes a decomposition of the probability of detecting a bird potentially exposed to sampling efforts into four separate probabilities. Primary inference methods are described and include distance sampling, multiple observers, time of d
Authors
J. D. Nichols, L. Thomas, P.B. Conn
Estimating latent time of maturation and survival costs of reproduction in continuous time from capture-recapture data
In many species, age or time of maturation and survival costs of reproduction may vary substantially within and among populations. We present a capture-mark-recapture model to estimate the latent individual trait distribution of time of maturation (or other irreversible transitions) as well as survival differences associated with the two states (representing costs of reproduction). Maturation ca
Authors
T. Ergon, Nigel G. Yoccoz, J. D. Nichols
Dynamic models for problems of species occurrence with multiple states
Recent extensions of occupancy modeling have focused not only on the distribution of species over space, but also on additional state variables (e.g., reproducing or not, with or without disease organisms, relative abundance categories) that provide extra information about occupied sites. These biologist-driven extensions are characterized by ambiguity in both species presence and correct state cl
Authors
Darryl I. MacKenzie, James D. Nichols, Mark E Seamans, R. J. Gutierrez
Dynamic multistate site occupancy models to evaluate hypotheses relevant to conservation of Golden Eagles in Denali National Park, Alaska
The recent development of multistate site occupancy models offers great opportunities to frame and solve decision problems for conservation that can be viewed in terms of site occupancy. These models have several characteristics (e.g., they account for detectability) that make them particularly well suited for addressing management and conservation problems. We applied multistate site occupancy mo
Authors
Julien Martin, Carol L. McIntyre, James E. Hines, James D. Nichols, Joel A. Schmutz, Margaret C. MacCluskie