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
Estimation of species richness and parameters reflecting community dynamics using data from ecological monitoring programs
Although many ecological monitoring programs are now in place, the use of resulting data to draw inferences about changes in biodiversity is problematic. The difficulty arises because of the inability to count all animals present in any sampled area. This inability results not only in underestimation of species richness but also in potentially misleading comparisons of species richness over time
Authors
J. D. Nichols, J.R. Sauer, J. E. Hines, T. Boulinier, K. H. Pollock
Using models in the conduct of science and management of natural resources
No abstract available.
Authors
J. D. Nichols
Regional patterns in proportion of bird species detected in the North American Breeding Bird Survey
Counts from the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) underestimate species richness. We use capture-recapture methods to estimate species richness from BBS count data collected in 1996 and show that detection probabilities demonstrate clear regional patterns. Capture-recapture methods should be used to estimate species richness from count data, and failure to use estimation procedures for s
Authors
J.R. Sauer, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines, T. Boulinier, C.H. Flather, W. L. Kendall
Modeling avian detection probabilities as a function of habitat using double-observer point count data
Point counts are a controversial sampling method for bird populations because the counts are not censuses, and the proportion of birds missed during counting generally is not estimated. We applied a double-observer approach to estimate detection rates of birds from point counts in Maryland, USA, and test whether detection rates differed between point counts conducted in field habitats as opposed
Authors
P.J. Heglund, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines, J. Sauer, J. Fallon, F. Fallon
Monitoring of biological diversity in space and time
Monitoring programmes are being used increasingly to assess spatial and temporal trends of biological diversity, with an emphasis on evaluating the efficiency of management policies. Recent reviews of the existing programmes, with a focus on their design in particular, have highlighted the main weaknesses: the lack of well-articulated objectives and the neglect of different sources of error in th
Authors
Nigel G. Yoccoz, J. D. Nichols, T. Boulinier
Forest fragmentation and bird community dynamics: Inference at regional scales
With increasing fragmentation of natural areas and a dramatic reduction of forest cover in several parts of the world, quantifying the impact of such changes on species richness and community dynamics has been a subject of much concern. Here, we tested whether in more fragmented landscapes there was a lower number of area-sensitive species and higher local extinction and turnover rates, which coul
Authors
T. Boulinier, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines, J.R. Sauer, C.H. Flather, K. H. Pollock
Population dynamics of Microtus pennsylvanicus in corridor-linked patches
Corridors have become a key issue in the discussion of conservation planning: however, few empirical data exist on the use of corridors and their effects on population dynamics. The objective of this replicated, population level, capture-re-capture experiment on meadow voles was to estimate and compare population characteristics of voles between (1) corridor-linked fragments, (2) isolated or non-
Authors
C.J. Coffman, J. D. Nichols, K. H. Pollock
Attractor reconstruction for non-linear systems: a methodological note
Attractor reconstruction is an important step in the process of making predictions for non-linear time-series and in the computation of certain invariant quantities used to characterize the dynamics of such series. The utility of computed predictions and invariant quantities is dependent on the accuracy of attractor reconstruction, which in turn is determined by the methods used in the reconstruc
Authors
J.M. Nichols, J. D. Nichols
Systems identification and the adaptive management of waterfowl in the United States
Waterfowl management in the United States is one of the more visible conservation success stories in the United States. It is authorized and supported by appropriate legislative authorities, based on large-scale monitoring programs, and widely accepted by the public. The process is one of only a limited number of large-scale examples of effective collaboration between research and management, in
Authors
B.K. Williams, J. D. Nichols
Hunting statistics: what data for what use? An account of an international workshop
Hunting interacts with the underlying dynamics of game species in several different ways and is, at the same time, a source of valuable information not easily obtained from populations that are not subjected to hunting. Specific questions, including the sustainability of hunting activities, can be addressed using hunting statistics. Such investigations will frequently require that hunting statis
Authors
J. D. Nichols, R.A. Lancia, J.D. Lebreton
Methods for estimating dispersal probabilities and related parameters using marked animals
Deriving valid inferences about the causes and consequences of dispersal from empirical studies depends largely on our ability reliably to estimate parameters associated with dispersal. Here, we present a review of the methods available for estimating dispersal and related parameters using marked individuals. We emphasize methods that place dispersal in a probabilistic framework. In this contex
Authors
R.E. Bennetts, J. D. Nichols, R. Pradel, J.D. Lebreton, W.M. Kitchens
Simultaneous use of mark-recapture and radiotelemetry to estimate survival, movement, and capture rates
Biologists often estimate separate survival and movement rates from radio-telemetry and mark-recapture data from the same study population. We describe a method for combining these data types in a single model to obtain joint, potentially less biased estimates of survival and movement that use all available data. We furnish an example using wood thrushes (Hylocichla mustelina) captured at the Pied
Authors
L.A. Powell, M.J. Conroy, J. E. Hines, J. D. Nichols, D.G. Krementz
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 401
Estimation of species richness and parameters reflecting community dynamics using data from ecological monitoring programs
Although many ecological monitoring programs are now in place, the use of resulting data to draw inferences about changes in biodiversity is problematic. The difficulty arises because of the inability to count all animals present in any sampled area. This inability results not only in underestimation of species richness but also in potentially misleading comparisons of species richness over time
Authors
J. D. Nichols, J.R. Sauer, J. E. Hines, T. Boulinier, K. H. Pollock
Using models in the conduct of science and management of natural resources
No abstract available.
Authors
J. D. Nichols
Regional patterns in proportion of bird species detected in the North American Breeding Bird Survey
Counts from the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) underestimate species richness. We use capture-recapture methods to estimate species richness from BBS count data collected in 1996 and show that detection probabilities demonstrate clear regional patterns. Capture-recapture methods should be used to estimate species richness from count data, and failure to use estimation procedures for s
Authors
J.R. Sauer, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines, T. Boulinier, C.H. Flather, W. L. Kendall
Modeling avian detection probabilities as a function of habitat using double-observer point count data
Point counts are a controversial sampling method for bird populations because the counts are not censuses, and the proportion of birds missed during counting generally is not estimated. We applied a double-observer approach to estimate detection rates of birds from point counts in Maryland, USA, and test whether detection rates differed between point counts conducted in field habitats as opposed
Authors
P.J. Heglund, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines, J. Sauer, J. Fallon, F. Fallon
Monitoring of biological diversity in space and time
Monitoring programmes are being used increasingly to assess spatial and temporal trends of biological diversity, with an emphasis on evaluating the efficiency of management policies. Recent reviews of the existing programmes, with a focus on their design in particular, have highlighted the main weaknesses: the lack of well-articulated objectives and the neglect of different sources of error in th
Authors
Nigel G. Yoccoz, J. D. Nichols, T. Boulinier
Forest fragmentation and bird community dynamics: Inference at regional scales
With increasing fragmentation of natural areas and a dramatic reduction of forest cover in several parts of the world, quantifying the impact of such changes on species richness and community dynamics has been a subject of much concern. Here, we tested whether in more fragmented landscapes there was a lower number of area-sensitive species and higher local extinction and turnover rates, which coul
Authors
T. Boulinier, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines, J.R. Sauer, C.H. Flather, K. H. Pollock
Population dynamics of Microtus pennsylvanicus in corridor-linked patches
Corridors have become a key issue in the discussion of conservation planning: however, few empirical data exist on the use of corridors and their effects on population dynamics. The objective of this replicated, population level, capture-re-capture experiment on meadow voles was to estimate and compare population characteristics of voles between (1) corridor-linked fragments, (2) isolated or non-
Authors
C.J. Coffman, J. D. Nichols, K. H. Pollock
Attractor reconstruction for non-linear systems: a methodological note
Attractor reconstruction is an important step in the process of making predictions for non-linear time-series and in the computation of certain invariant quantities used to characterize the dynamics of such series. The utility of computed predictions and invariant quantities is dependent on the accuracy of attractor reconstruction, which in turn is determined by the methods used in the reconstruc
Authors
J.M. Nichols, J. D. Nichols
Systems identification and the adaptive management of waterfowl in the United States
Waterfowl management in the United States is one of the more visible conservation success stories in the United States. It is authorized and supported by appropriate legislative authorities, based on large-scale monitoring programs, and widely accepted by the public. The process is one of only a limited number of large-scale examples of effective collaboration between research and management, in
Authors
B.K. Williams, J. D. Nichols
Hunting statistics: what data for what use? An account of an international workshop
Hunting interacts with the underlying dynamics of game species in several different ways and is, at the same time, a source of valuable information not easily obtained from populations that are not subjected to hunting. Specific questions, including the sustainability of hunting activities, can be addressed using hunting statistics. Such investigations will frequently require that hunting statis
Authors
J. D. Nichols, R.A. Lancia, J.D. Lebreton
Methods for estimating dispersal probabilities and related parameters using marked animals
Deriving valid inferences about the causes and consequences of dispersal from empirical studies depends largely on our ability reliably to estimate parameters associated with dispersal. Here, we present a review of the methods available for estimating dispersal and related parameters using marked individuals. We emphasize methods that place dispersal in a probabilistic framework. In this contex
Authors
R.E. Bennetts, J. D. Nichols, R. Pradel, J.D. Lebreton, W.M. Kitchens
Simultaneous use of mark-recapture and radiotelemetry to estimate survival, movement, and capture rates
Biologists often estimate separate survival and movement rates from radio-telemetry and mark-recapture data from the same study population. We describe a method for combining these data types in a single model to obtain joint, potentially less biased estimates of survival and movement that use all available data. We furnish an example using wood thrushes (Hylocichla mustelina) captured at the Pied
Authors
L.A. Powell, M.J. Conroy, J. E. Hines, J. D. Nichols, D.G. Krementz