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
Estimating species richness: The importance of heterogeneity in species detectability
Estimating species richness (i.e., the actual number of species present in a given area) is a basic objective of many field studies carried out in community ecology and is also of crucial concern when dealing with the conservation and management of biodiversity. In most studies, the total number of species recorded in an area at a given time is taken as a measure of species richness. Here we use a
Authors
T. Boulinier, James D. Nichols, John R. Sauer, James E. Hines, K. H. Pollock
Size-sex variation in survival rates and abundance of pig frogs, Rana grylio, in northern Florida wetlands
During 1991-1993, we conducted capture-recapture studies on pig frogs, Rana grylio, in seven study locations in northcentral Florida. Resulting data were used to test hypotheses about variation in survival probability over different size-sex classes of pig frogs. We developed multistate capture-recapture models for the resulting data and used them to estimate survival rates and frog abundance.
Authors
K.V. Wood, J. D. Nichols, H.F. Percival, J. E. Hines
Demography of forest birds in Panama: How do transients affect estimates of survival rates?
Estimates of annual survival rates for a multispecies sample of neotropical birds from Panama have proven controversial. Traditionally, tropical birds were thought to have high survival rates for their size, but analyses by Kart et al. (1990. Am. Nat. 136:277-91) contradicted that view, suggesting tropical birds may not have systematically high survival rates. A persistent criticism of that study
Authors
J. D. Brawn, J.R. Karr, J. D. Nichols, W.D. Robinson
Modeling colony site dynamics: A case study of gull-billed terns (Sterna nilotica) in coastal Virginia
We developed a Markov process model for colony-site dynamics of Gull-billed Terns (Sterna nilotica). From 1993 through 1996, we monitored breeding numbers of Gull-billed Terns and their frequent colony associates, Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) and Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger), at colony sites along 80 km of the barrier island region of coastal Virginia. We also monitored flooding events and ren
Authors
R.M. Erwin, J. D. Nichols, T.B. Eyler, D.B. Stotts, B.R. Truitt
Inference methods for spatial variation in species richness and community composition when not all species are detected
Inferences about spatial variation in species richness and community composition are important both to ecological hypotheses about the structure and function of communities and to community-level conservation and management. Few sampling programs for animal communities provide censuses, and usually some species in surveyed areas are not detected. Thus, counts of species detected underestimate the
Authors
J. D. Nichols, T. Boulinier, J. E. Hines, K. H. Pollock, J.R. Sauer
Tests for senescent decline in annual survival probabilities of common pochards, Aythya ferina
Senescent decline in survival probabilities of animals is a topic about which much has been written but little is known. Here, we present formal tests of senescence hypotheses, using 1373 recaptures from 8877 duckling (age 0) and 504 yearling Common Pochards (Aythya ferina) banded at a Latvian study site, 1975-1992. The tests are based on capture-recapture models that explicitly incorporate sam
Authors
James D. Nichols, James E. Hines, P. Blums
Estimating temporary emigration using capture-recapture data with Pollock's robust design
Statistical inference for capture–recapture studies of open animal populations typically relies on the assumption that all emigration from the studied population is permanent. However, there are many instances in which this assumption is unlikely to be met. We define two general models for the process of temporary emigration: completely random and Markovian. We then consider effects of these two t
Authors
W. L. Kendall, James D. Nichols, James E. Hines
Stochastic seasonality and nonlinear density-dependent factors regulate population size in an African rodent
Ecology has long been troubled by the controversy over how populations are regulated. Some ecologists focus on the role of environmental effects, whereas others argue that density-dependent feedback mechanisms are central. The relative importance of both processes is still hotly debated, but clear examples of both processes acting in the same population are rare. Keyfactor analysis (regression o
Authors
H. Leirs, N. C. Stenseth, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines, R. Verhagen, W. Verheyen
The loss rates of web tags applied to day-old Anas and Aythya ducklings
Researchers studied the loss rate of web tags on Anas and Aythya ducklings by double marking day-old ducklings of five species with web tags and plasticine-filled rings. Tag loss was examined over three-month, one-year, and three-year periods. Web tag loss was greatest for Anas and occurred mostly in the first three months following tagging.
Authors
P. Blums, A. Mednis, I. Bauga, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines
Metodos cuantitativas contemporancos para entender y manejar poblaciones y comunidades animales
No abstract available.
Authors
M.J. Conroy, J. D. Nichols, E.R. Asanza
Sources of variation in waterfowl survival rates
Because of the need to manage hunted populations of waterfowl (Anatidae), biologists have studied many demographic traits of waterfowl by analyzing band recoveries. These analyses have produced the most extensive and best estimates of survival available for any group of birds. Using these data, we examined several factors that might explain variation among annual survival rates to explore large-sc
Authors
D.G. Krementz, R. J. Barker, J. D. Nichols
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 401
Estimating species richness: The importance of heterogeneity in species detectability
Estimating species richness (i.e., the actual number of species present in a given area) is a basic objective of many field studies carried out in community ecology and is also of crucial concern when dealing with the conservation and management of biodiversity. In most studies, the total number of species recorded in an area at a given time is taken as a measure of species richness. Here we use a
Authors
T. Boulinier, James D. Nichols, John R. Sauer, James E. Hines, K. H. Pollock
Size-sex variation in survival rates and abundance of pig frogs, Rana grylio, in northern Florida wetlands
During 1991-1993, we conducted capture-recapture studies on pig frogs, Rana grylio, in seven study locations in northcentral Florida. Resulting data were used to test hypotheses about variation in survival probability over different size-sex classes of pig frogs. We developed multistate capture-recapture models for the resulting data and used them to estimate survival rates and frog abundance.
Authors
K.V. Wood, J. D. Nichols, H.F. Percival, J. E. Hines
Demography of forest birds in Panama: How do transients affect estimates of survival rates?
Estimates of annual survival rates for a multispecies sample of neotropical birds from Panama have proven controversial. Traditionally, tropical birds were thought to have high survival rates for their size, but analyses by Kart et al. (1990. Am. Nat. 136:277-91) contradicted that view, suggesting tropical birds may not have systematically high survival rates. A persistent criticism of that study
Authors
J. D. Brawn, J.R. Karr, J. D. Nichols, W.D. Robinson
Modeling colony site dynamics: A case study of gull-billed terns (Sterna nilotica) in coastal Virginia
We developed a Markov process model for colony-site dynamics of Gull-billed Terns (Sterna nilotica). From 1993 through 1996, we monitored breeding numbers of Gull-billed Terns and their frequent colony associates, Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) and Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger), at colony sites along 80 km of the barrier island region of coastal Virginia. We also monitored flooding events and ren
Authors
R.M. Erwin, J. D. Nichols, T.B. Eyler, D.B. Stotts, B.R. Truitt
Inference methods for spatial variation in species richness and community composition when not all species are detected
Inferences about spatial variation in species richness and community composition are important both to ecological hypotheses about the structure and function of communities and to community-level conservation and management. Few sampling programs for animal communities provide censuses, and usually some species in surveyed areas are not detected. Thus, counts of species detected underestimate the
Authors
J. D. Nichols, T. Boulinier, J. E. Hines, K. H. Pollock, J.R. Sauer
Tests for senescent decline in annual survival probabilities of common pochards, Aythya ferina
Senescent decline in survival probabilities of animals is a topic about which much has been written but little is known. Here, we present formal tests of senescence hypotheses, using 1373 recaptures from 8877 duckling (age 0) and 504 yearling Common Pochards (Aythya ferina) banded at a Latvian study site, 1975-1992. The tests are based on capture-recapture models that explicitly incorporate sam
Authors
James D. Nichols, James E. Hines, P. Blums
Estimating temporary emigration using capture-recapture data with Pollock's robust design
Statistical inference for capture–recapture studies of open animal populations typically relies on the assumption that all emigration from the studied population is permanent. However, there are many instances in which this assumption is unlikely to be met. We define two general models for the process of temporary emigration: completely random and Markovian. We then consider effects of these two t
Authors
W. L. Kendall, James D. Nichols, James E. Hines
Stochastic seasonality and nonlinear density-dependent factors regulate population size in an African rodent
Ecology has long been troubled by the controversy over how populations are regulated. Some ecologists focus on the role of environmental effects, whereas others argue that density-dependent feedback mechanisms are central. The relative importance of both processes is still hotly debated, but clear examples of both processes acting in the same population are rare. Keyfactor analysis (regression o
Authors
H. Leirs, N. C. Stenseth, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines, R. Verhagen, W. Verheyen
The loss rates of web tags applied to day-old Anas and Aythya ducklings
Researchers studied the loss rate of web tags on Anas and Aythya ducklings by double marking day-old ducklings of five species with web tags and plasticine-filled rings. Tag loss was examined over three-month, one-year, and three-year periods. Web tag loss was greatest for Anas and occurred mostly in the first three months following tagging.
Authors
P. Blums, A. Mednis, I. Bauga, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines
Metodos cuantitativas contemporancos para entender y manejar poblaciones y comunidades animales
No abstract available.
Authors
M.J. Conroy, J. D. Nichols, E.R. Asanza
Sources of variation in waterfowl survival rates
Because of the need to manage hunted populations of waterfowl (Anatidae), biologists have studied many demographic traits of waterfowl by analyzing band recoveries. These analyses have produced the most extensive and best estimates of survival available for any group of birds. Using these data, we examined several factors that might explain variation among annual survival rates to explore large-sc
Authors
D.G. Krementz, R. J. Barker, J. D. Nichols