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
Sources of variation in breeding-ground fidelity of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos)
Generalizations used to support hypotheses about the evolution of fidelity to breeding areas in birds include the tendency for fidelity to be greater in adult birds than in yearlings. In ducks, in contrast to most bird species, fidelity is thought to be greater among females than males. Researchers have suggested that fidelity in ducks is positively correlated with pond availability. However, m
Authors
P.F. Doherty, J. D. Nichols, J. Tautin, J.E. Voelzer, G.W. Smith, D.S. Benning, V.R. Bentley, J.K. Bidwell, K.S. Bollinger, A.R. Brazda, E.K. Buelna, J.R. Goldsberry, R.J. King, F.H. Roetker, J.W. Solberg, P.P. Thorpe, J.S. Wortham
Estimating site occupancy rates when detection probabilities are less than one
Nondetection of a species at a site does not imply that the species is absent unless the probability of detection is 1. We propose a model and likelihood-based method for estimating site occupancy rates when detection probabilities are < 1. The model provides a flexible framework enabling covariate information to be included and allowing for missing observations. Via computer simulation, we found
Authors
D.I. MacKenzie, J. D. Nichols, G.B. Lachman, Sam Droege, J. Andrew Royle, C.A. Langtimm
The estimation of size and change in composition of avian song repertoires
No abstract available.
Authors
L. Zs Garamszegi, T. Boulinier, A.P. Mrller, J. Torok, G. Michl, J. D. Nichols
Spatio-temporal dynamics of species richness in coastal fish communities
Determining patterns of change in species richness and the processes underlying the dynamics of biodiversity are of key interest within the field of ecology, but few studies have investigated the dynamics of vertebrate communities at a decadal temporal scale. Here, we report findings on the spado-temporal variability in the richness and composition of fish communities along the Norwegian Skagerra
Authors
K. Lekve, T. Boulinier, N. C. Stenseth, J. Gjøsaeter, J-M. Fromentin, J. E. Hines, J. D. Nichols
Estimating state-transition probabilities for unobservable states using capture-recapture/resighting data
Temporary emigration was identified some time ago as causing potential problems in capture-recapture studies, and in the last five years approaches have been developed for dealing with special cases of this general problem. Temporary emigration can be viewed more generally as involving transitions to and from an unobservable state, and frequently the state itself is one of biological interest (e.
Authors
W. L. Kendall, J. D. Nichols
The use of resighting data to estimate the rate of population growth of the snail kite in Florida
The rate of population growth (lambda) is an important demographic parameter used to assess the viability of a population and to develop management and conservation agendas. We examined the use of resighting data to estimate lambda for the snail kite population in Florida from 1997-2000. The analyses consisted of (1) a robust design approach that derives an estimate of lambda from estimates of pop
Authors
V.J. Dreitz, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines, R.E. Bennetts, W.M. Kitchens, D.L. DeAngelis
Investigations of potential bias in the estimation of lambda using Pradel's (1996) model for capture-recapture data
Pradel's (1996) temporal symmetry model permitting direct estimation and modelling of population growth rate, lambda sub i provides a potentially useful tool for the study of population dynamics using marked animals. Because of its recent publication date, the approach has not seen much use, and there have been virtually no investigations directed at robustness of the resulting estimators. Here
Authors
J. E. Hines, J. D. Nichols
Approaches for the direct estimation of lambda, and demographic contributions to lambda, using capture-recapture data
We first consider the estimation of the finite rate of population increase or population growth rate, lambda sub i, using capture-recapture data from open populations. We review estimation and modelling of lambda sub i under three main approaches to modelling open-population data: the classic approach of Jolly (1965) and Seber (1965), the superpopulation approach of Crosbie & Manly (1985) and Sch
Authors
J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines
Discussion comments on: 'Occam's shadow: levels of analysis in evolutionary ecology - where to next? by Cooch, Cam and Link
No abstract available.
Authors
J. D. Nichols
Modelling postfledging survival and age-specific breeding probabilities in species with delayed maturity: A case study of Roseate Terns at Falkner Island, Connecticut
We modeled postfledging survival and age-specific breeding probabilities in endangered Roseate Terns (Sterna dougallii) at Falkner Island, Connecticut, USA using capture-recapture data from 1988-1998 of birds ringed as chicks and as adults. While no individuals bred as 2-yr-olds during this period, about three-quarters of the young that survived and returned as 3-yr-olds nested, and virtually all
Authors
Jeffrey A. Spendelow, James D. Nichols, J. E. Hines, Jean-Dominique Lebreton, Roger Pradel
Analysis and Management of Animal Populations: Modeling, Estimation and Decision Making
This book deals with the processes involved in making informed decisions about the management of animal populations. It covers the modeling of population responses to management actions, the estimation of quantities needed in the modeling effort, and the application of these estimates and models to the development of sound management decisions. The book synthesizes and integrates in a single vol
Authors
B.K. Williams, J. D. Nichols, M.J. Conroy
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 401
Sources of variation in breeding-ground fidelity of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos)
Generalizations used to support hypotheses about the evolution of fidelity to breeding areas in birds include the tendency for fidelity to be greater in adult birds than in yearlings. In ducks, in contrast to most bird species, fidelity is thought to be greater among females than males. Researchers have suggested that fidelity in ducks is positively correlated with pond availability. However, m
Authors
P.F. Doherty, J. D. Nichols, J. Tautin, J.E. Voelzer, G.W. Smith, D.S. Benning, V.R. Bentley, J.K. Bidwell, K.S. Bollinger, A.R. Brazda, E.K. Buelna, J.R. Goldsberry, R.J. King, F.H. Roetker, J.W. Solberg, P.P. Thorpe, J.S. Wortham
Estimating site occupancy rates when detection probabilities are less than one
Nondetection of a species at a site does not imply that the species is absent unless the probability of detection is 1. We propose a model and likelihood-based method for estimating site occupancy rates when detection probabilities are < 1. The model provides a flexible framework enabling covariate information to be included and allowing for missing observations. Via computer simulation, we found
Authors
D.I. MacKenzie, J. D. Nichols, G.B. Lachman, Sam Droege, J. Andrew Royle, C.A. Langtimm
The estimation of size and change in composition of avian song repertoires
No abstract available.
Authors
L. Zs Garamszegi, T. Boulinier, A.P. Mrller, J. Torok, G. Michl, J. D. Nichols
Spatio-temporal dynamics of species richness in coastal fish communities
Determining patterns of change in species richness and the processes underlying the dynamics of biodiversity are of key interest within the field of ecology, but few studies have investigated the dynamics of vertebrate communities at a decadal temporal scale. Here, we report findings on the spado-temporal variability in the richness and composition of fish communities along the Norwegian Skagerra
Authors
K. Lekve, T. Boulinier, N. C. Stenseth, J. Gjøsaeter, J-M. Fromentin, J. E. Hines, J. D. Nichols
Estimating state-transition probabilities for unobservable states using capture-recapture/resighting data
Temporary emigration was identified some time ago as causing potential problems in capture-recapture studies, and in the last five years approaches have been developed for dealing with special cases of this general problem. Temporary emigration can be viewed more generally as involving transitions to and from an unobservable state, and frequently the state itself is one of biological interest (e.
Authors
W. L. Kendall, J. D. Nichols
The use of resighting data to estimate the rate of population growth of the snail kite in Florida
The rate of population growth (lambda) is an important demographic parameter used to assess the viability of a population and to develop management and conservation agendas. We examined the use of resighting data to estimate lambda for the snail kite population in Florida from 1997-2000. The analyses consisted of (1) a robust design approach that derives an estimate of lambda from estimates of pop
Authors
V.J. Dreitz, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines, R.E. Bennetts, W.M. Kitchens, D.L. DeAngelis
Investigations of potential bias in the estimation of lambda using Pradel's (1996) model for capture-recapture data
Pradel's (1996) temporal symmetry model permitting direct estimation and modelling of population growth rate, lambda sub i provides a potentially useful tool for the study of population dynamics using marked animals. Because of its recent publication date, the approach has not seen much use, and there have been virtually no investigations directed at robustness of the resulting estimators. Here
Authors
J. E. Hines, J. D. Nichols
Approaches for the direct estimation of lambda, and demographic contributions to lambda, using capture-recapture data
We first consider the estimation of the finite rate of population increase or population growth rate, lambda sub i, using capture-recapture data from open populations. We review estimation and modelling of lambda sub i under three main approaches to modelling open-population data: the classic approach of Jolly (1965) and Seber (1965), the superpopulation approach of Crosbie & Manly (1985) and Sch
Authors
J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines
Discussion comments on: 'Occam's shadow: levels of analysis in evolutionary ecology - where to next? by Cooch, Cam and Link
No abstract available.
Authors
J. D. Nichols
Modelling postfledging survival and age-specific breeding probabilities in species with delayed maturity: A case study of Roseate Terns at Falkner Island, Connecticut
We modeled postfledging survival and age-specific breeding probabilities in endangered Roseate Terns (Sterna dougallii) at Falkner Island, Connecticut, USA using capture-recapture data from 1988-1998 of birds ringed as chicks and as adults. While no individuals bred as 2-yr-olds during this period, about three-quarters of the young that survived and returned as 3-yr-olds nested, and virtually all
Authors
Jeffrey A. Spendelow, James D. Nichols, J. E. Hines, Jean-Dominique Lebreton, Roger Pradel
Analysis and Management of Animal Populations: Modeling, Estimation and Decision Making
This book deals with the processes involved in making informed decisions about the management of animal populations. It covers the modeling of population responses to management actions, the estimation of quantities needed in the modeling effort, and the application of these estimates and models to the development of sound management decisions. The book synthesizes and integrates in a single vol
Authors
B.K. Williams, J. D. Nichols, M.J. Conroy