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
Spring hunting changes the regional movements of migrating greater snow geese
1. Human-induced disturbance such as hunting may influence the migratory behaviour of long-distance migrants. In 1999 and 2000 a spring hunt of greater snow geese Anser caerulescens atlanticus occurred for the first time in North America since 1916, aimed at stopping population growth to protect natural habitats. 2. We evaluated the impact of this hunt on the staging movements of geese along a 600
Authors
A. Bechet, J.-F. Giroux, G. Gauthier, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines
On the use of attractor dimension as a feature in structural health monitoring
Recent works in the vibration-based structural health monitoring community have emphasised the use of correlation dimension as a discriminating statistic in seperating a damaged from undamaged response. This paper explores the utility of attractor dimension as a 'feature' and offers some comparisons between different metrics reflecting dimension. This focus is on evaluating the performance of tw
Authors
J.M. Nichols, L.N. Virgin, M.D. Todd, J. D. Nichols
Estimating site occupancy, colonization, and local extinction when a species is detected imperfectly
Few species are likely to be so evident that they will always be detected when present. Failing to allow for the possibility that a target species was present, but undetected, at a site will lead to biased estimates of site occupancy, colonization, and local extinction probabilities. These population vital rates are often of interest in long-term monitoring programs and metapopulation studies. We
Authors
D.I. MacKenzie, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines, M. G. Knutson, A.B. Franklin
On the use of the robust design with transient capture-recapture models
Capture-mark-recapture studies provide a useful mechanism for estimating the components of the population dynamics of birds, especially survival. In such studies, it is important that the population being captured matches the population of interest. In many studies, transients are captured along with the population of interest (e.g. resident breeders). Ignoring that phenomenon produces negativel
Authors
J. E. Hines, W. L. Kendall, J. D. Nichols
Monitoring of biological diversity — A response to Danielsen et al
No abstract available.
Authors
Nigel G. Yoccoz, J. D. Nichols, T. Boulinier
Sexual selection affects local extinction and turnover in bird communities
Predicting extinction risks has become a central goal for conservation and evolutionary biologists interested in population and community dynamics. Several factors have been put forward to explain risks of extinction, including ecological and life history characteristics of individuals. For instance, factors that affect the balance between natality and mortality can have profound effects on popu
Authors
Paul F. Doherty, G. Sorci, J. Andrew Royle, J. E. Hines, J. D. Nichols, T. Boulinier
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
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
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
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
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 401
Spring hunting changes the regional movements of migrating greater snow geese
1. Human-induced disturbance such as hunting may influence the migratory behaviour of long-distance migrants. In 1999 and 2000 a spring hunt of greater snow geese Anser caerulescens atlanticus occurred for the first time in North America since 1916, aimed at stopping population growth to protect natural habitats. 2. We evaluated the impact of this hunt on the staging movements of geese along a 600
Authors
A. Bechet, J.-F. Giroux, G. Gauthier, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines
On the use of attractor dimension as a feature in structural health monitoring
Recent works in the vibration-based structural health monitoring community have emphasised the use of correlation dimension as a discriminating statistic in seperating a damaged from undamaged response. This paper explores the utility of attractor dimension as a 'feature' and offers some comparisons between different metrics reflecting dimension. This focus is on evaluating the performance of tw
Authors
J.M. Nichols, L.N. Virgin, M.D. Todd, J. D. Nichols
Estimating site occupancy, colonization, and local extinction when a species is detected imperfectly
Few species are likely to be so evident that they will always be detected when present. Failing to allow for the possibility that a target species was present, but undetected, at a site will lead to biased estimates of site occupancy, colonization, and local extinction probabilities. These population vital rates are often of interest in long-term monitoring programs and metapopulation studies. We
Authors
D.I. MacKenzie, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines, M. G. Knutson, A.B. Franklin
On the use of the robust design with transient capture-recapture models
Capture-mark-recapture studies provide a useful mechanism for estimating the components of the population dynamics of birds, especially survival. In such studies, it is important that the population being captured matches the population of interest. In many studies, transients are captured along with the population of interest (e.g. resident breeders). Ignoring that phenomenon produces negativel
Authors
J. E. Hines, W. L. Kendall, J. D. Nichols
Monitoring of biological diversity — A response to Danielsen et al
No abstract available.
Authors
Nigel G. Yoccoz, J. D. Nichols, T. Boulinier
Sexual selection affects local extinction and turnover in bird communities
Predicting extinction risks has become a central goal for conservation and evolutionary biologists interested in population and community dynamics. Several factors have been put forward to explain risks of extinction, including ecological and life history characteristics of individuals. For instance, factors that affect the balance between natality and mortality can have profound effects on popu
Authors
Paul F. Doherty, G. Sorci, J. Andrew Royle, J. E. Hines, J. D. Nichols, T. Boulinier
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
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
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
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