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 survival and movement
No abstract available.
Authors
J. D. Nichols, W. L. Kendall, M.C. Runge
On the use of capture-recapture models in mist-net studies
Capture-recapture models provide a statistical framework for estimating population parameters from mist-net data. Although Cormack-Jolly-Seber and related models have recently been used to estimate survival rates of birds sampled with mist nets, we believe that the full potential for use of capture-recapture models has not been realized by many researchers involved in mist-net studies. We present
Authors
W. L. Kendall, J.R. Sauer, J. D. Nichols, R. Pradel, J. E. Hines
Occupancy estimation and modeling for rare and elusive populations
No abstract available.
Authors
D.I. MacKenzie, J. Andrew Royle, J.A. Brown, J. D. Nichols
The relationship between species detection probability and local extinction probability
In community-level ecological studies, generally not all species present in sampled areas are detected. Many authors have proposed the use of estimation methods that allow detection probabilities that are < 1 and that are heterogeneous among species. These methods can also be used to estimate community-dynamic parameters such as species local extinction probability and turnover rates (Nichols et
Authors
R. Alpizar-Jara, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines, J.R. Sauer, K. H. Pollock, C.S. Rosenberry
Avian dispersal and demography: Scaling up to the landscape and beyond
No abstract available.
Authors
R. G. Clark, K.A. Hobson, J. D. Nichols, S. Bearhop
On the estimation of dispersal and movement of birds
The estimation of dispersal and movement is important to evolutionary and population ecologists, as well as to wildlife managers. We review statistical methodology available to estimate movement probabilities. We begin with cases where individual birds can be marked and their movements estimated with the use of multisite capture-recapture methods. Movements can be monitored either directly, usi
Authors
W. L. Kendall, J. D. Nichols
Detecting warning signs of trouble within population fluctuations: using capture-recapture modeling to uncover changes in population dynamics leading to declines
An intensive mark-recapture/resighting program has been carried out on the Roseate Terns nesting at Falkner Island, Connecticut, since the late 1980s as part of a regional study of the metapopulation dynamics and ecology of the endangered Northwest Atlantic breeding population of this species. Substantial losses of tern eggs and chicks to predation at this colony site began in 1996 when at least
Authors
J. A. Spendelow, J. D. Nichols, W. L. Kendall, J. E. Hines, J. S. Hatfield, I.C.T. Nisbet
Comparative dynamics of small mammal populations in treefall gaps and surrounding understorey within Amazonian rainforest
Variation in food resource availability can have profound effects on habitat selection and dynamics of populations. Previous studies reported higher food resource availability and fruit removal in treefall gaps than in the understorey. Therefore, gaps have been considered 'keystone habitat' for Neotropical frugivore birds. Here we test if this prediction would also hold for terrestrial small mamma
Authors
H. Beck, M.S. Gaines, J. E. Hines, J. D. Nichols
Investigating species co-occurrence patterns when species are detected imperfectly
1. Over the last 30 years there has been a great deal of interest in investigating patterns of species co-occurrence across a number of locations, which has led to the development of numerous methods to determine whether there is evidence that a particular pattern may not have occurred by random chance. 2. A key aspect that seems to have been largely overlooked is the possibility that species may
Authors
D.I. MacKenzie, L.L. Bailey, J. D. Nichols
Tigers and their prey: Predicting carnivore densities from prey abundance
The goal of ecology is to understand interactions that determine the distribution and abundance of organisms. In principle, ecologists should be able to identify a small number of limiting resources for a species of interest, estimate densities of these resources at different locations across the landscape, and then use these estimates to predict the density of the focal species at these locations
Authors
K. U. Karanth, J. D. Nichols, S. Kumar, W. A. Link, J. E. Hines
Testing life history predictions in a long-lived seabird: A population matrix approach with improved parameter estimation
Life history theory and associated empirical generalizations predict that population growth rate (λ) in long-lived animals should be most sensitive to adult survival; the rates to which λ is most sensitive should be those with the smallest temporal variances; and stochastic environmental events should most affect the rates to which λ is least sensitive. To date, most analyses attempting to examine
Authors
P.F. Doherty, E.A. Schreiber, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines, W. A. Link, G.A. Schenk, R.W. Schreiber
Estimation of sex-specific survival from capture-recapture data when sex is not always known
Many animals lack obvious sexual dimorphism, making assignment of sex difficult even for observed or captured animals. For many such species it is possible to assign sex with certainty only at some occasions; for example, when they exhibit certain types of behavior. A common approach to handling this situation in capture-recapture studies has been to group capture histories into those of animals e
Authors
J. D. Nichols, W. L. Kendall, J. E. Hines, J. A. Spendelow
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 401
Estimating survival and movement
No abstract available.
Authors
J. D. Nichols, W. L. Kendall, M.C. Runge
On the use of capture-recapture models in mist-net studies
Capture-recapture models provide a statistical framework for estimating population parameters from mist-net data. Although Cormack-Jolly-Seber and related models have recently been used to estimate survival rates of birds sampled with mist nets, we believe that the full potential for use of capture-recapture models has not been realized by many researchers involved in mist-net studies. We present
Authors
W. L. Kendall, J.R. Sauer, J. D. Nichols, R. Pradel, J. E. Hines
Occupancy estimation and modeling for rare and elusive populations
No abstract available.
Authors
D.I. MacKenzie, J. Andrew Royle, J.A. Brown, J. D. Nichols
The relationship between species detection probability and local extinction probability
In community-level ecological studies, generally not all species present in sampled areas are detected. Many authors have proposed the use of estimation methods that allow detection probabilities that are < 1 and that are heterogeneous among species. These methods can also be used to estimate community-dynamic parameters such as species local extinction probability and turnover rates (Nichols et
Authors
R. Alpizar-Jara, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines, J.R. Sauer, K. H. Pollock, C.S. Rosenberry
Avian dispersal and demography: Scaling up to the landscape and beyond
No abstract available.
Authors
R. G. Clark, K.A. Hobson, J. D. Nichols, S. Bearhop
On the estimation of dispersal and movement of birds
The estimation of dispersal and movement is important to evolutionary and population ecologists, as well as to wildlife managers. We review statistical methodology available to estimate movement probabilities. We begin with cases where individual birds can be marked and their movements estimated with the use of multisite capture-recapture methods. Movements can be monitored either directly, usi
Authors
W. L. Kendall, J. D. Nichols
Detecting warning signs of trouble within population fluctuations: using capture-recapture modeling to uncover changes in population dynamics leading to declines
An intensive mark-recapture/resighting program has been carried out on the Roseate Terns nesting at Falkner Island, Connecticut, since the late 1980s as part of a regional study of the metapopulation dynamics and ecology of the endangered Northwest Atlantic breeding population of this species. Substantial losses of tern eggs and chicks to predation at this colony site began in 1996 when at least
Authors
J. A. Spendelow, J. D. Nichols, W. L. Kendall, J. E. Hines, J. S. Hatfield, I.C.T. Nisbet
Comparative dynamics of small mammal populations in treefall gaps and surrounding understorey within Amazonian rainforest
Variation in food resource availability can have profound effects on habitat selection and dynamics of populations. Previous studies reported higher food resource availability and fruit removal in treefall gaps than in the understorey. Therefore, gaps have been considered 'keystone habitat' for Neotropical frugivore birds. Here we test if this prediction would also hold for terrestrial small mamma
Authors
H. Beck, M.S. Gaines, J. E. Hines, J. D. Nichols
Investigating species co-occurrence patterns when species are detected imperfectly
1. Over the last 30 years there has been a great deal of interest in investigating patterns of species co-occurrence across a number of locations, which has led to the development of numerous methods to determine whether there is evidence that a particular pattern may not have occurred by random chance. 2. A key aspect that seems to have been largely overlooked is the possibility that species may
Authors
D.I. MacKenzie, L.L. Bailey, J. D. Nichols
Tigers and their prey: Predicting carnivore densities from prey abundance
The goal of ecology is to understand interactions that determine the distribution and abundance of organisms. In principle, ecologists should be able to identify a small number of limiting resources for a species of interest, estimate densities of these resources at different locations across the landscape, and then use these estimates to predict the density of the focal species at these locations
Authors
K. U. Karanth, J. D. Nichols, S. Kumar, W. A. Link, J. E. Hines
Testing life history predictions in a long-lived seabird: A population matrix approach with improved parameter estimation
Life history theory and associated empirical generalizations predict that population growth rate (λ) in long-lived animals should be most sensitive to adult survival; the rates to which λ is most sensitive should be those with the smallest temporal variances; and stochastic environmental events should most affect the rates to which λ is least sensitive. To date, most analyses attempting to examine
Authors
P.F. Doherty, E.A. Schreiber, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines, W. A. Link, G.A. Schenk, R.W. Schreiber
Estimation of sex-specific survival from capture-recapture data when sex is not always known
Many animals lack obvious sexual dimorphism, making assignment of sex difficult even for observed or captured animals. For many such species it is possible to assign sex with certainty only at some occasions; for example, when they exhibit certain types of behavior. A common approach to handling this situation in capture-recapture studies has been to group capture histories into those of animals e
Authors
J. D. Nichols, W. L. Kendall, J. E. Hines, J. A. Spendelow