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: 409
Mallard survival from local to immature stage in southwestern Saskatchewan
We used 3,670 reciveries from 32,647 bandings of mallards in southwestern Saskatchewan during 1956-59 to estimate the probability of surviving from the local, flightless stage to the flighted, immature stage. The probability of surviving from the local to the immature stage was 0.84 +/- 0.05 (SE) for males and females. The geographic distribution of direct recoveries was similar for the birds ba
Authors
J.B. Hestbeck, A. Dzubin, J.B. Gollop, J. D. Nichols
Evaluation and experimentation with duck management strategies
Our knowledge of the effects of hunting regulations on duck populations has been based largely on retrospective studies of historical data. We have reached the limits of what can be learned in this way. Future knowledge gains will likely come about only through experimentation and adaptive management.
Authors
J. D. Nichols, F.A. Johnson
A computer program for sample size computations for banding studies
Sample sizes necessary for estimating survival rates of banded birds, adults and young, are derived based on specified levels of precision. The banding study can be new or ongoing. The desired coefficient of variation (CV) for annual survival estimates, the CV for mean annual survival estimates, and the length of the study must be specified to compute sample sizes. A computer program is availab
Authors
K.R. Wilson, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines
Waterfowl mortality factors
The objectives of waterfowl management in North America involve population size and harvest. Any management action intended to influence population size must do so through one of four demographic variables: reproduction, mortality, immigration, and emigration. Mortality is especially important because hunting can be strongly influenced by management.
Authors
J. D. Nichols
Sex specificity of behavioral dominance and fasting endurance in wintering canvasbacks: Experimental results
Hand-reared canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) of varying sex ratios were maintained in pens during winter 1980-81 (3M-3F, 6M-0F, 0M-6F) and winter 1981-82 (4M-2F, 2M-4F) and fed two diets (control and stress). They were observed during feeding trials to determine intrasexual and intersexual aggressive activity. There was little evidence that either diet or sex ratio affected the total number of agg
Authors
M. C. Perry, J. D. Nichols, M.J. Conroy, H.H. Obrecht, B.K. Williams
Some considerations in modeling the mallard life cycle
We outline a population model proposed to accommodate the full life cycle of the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). Events during the breeding season are better understood than events at other times of the year, but recent findings suggest the importance of phenomena away from the breeding grounds. Several processes are discussed relative to mallard population dynamics. Compensatory mortality is a poor
Authors
D. H. Johnson, J. D. Nichols, M.J. Conroy, L.M. Cowardin
Some considerations in modeling the mallard life cycle
We outline a population model proposed to accommodate the full life cycle of the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos}. Events during the breeding season are better understood than events at other times of the year, but recent findings suggest the importance of phenomena away from the breeding grounds. Several processes are discussed relative to mallard population dynamics. Compensatory mortality is a poor
Authors
D. H. Johnson, J. D. Nichols, M.J. Conroy, L.M. Cowardin
Workshop summary: Species and population status and distribution
No abstract available.
Authors
J. D. Nichols, D.V. Derksen, R. L. Jarvis, John T. Ratti
Migration, Harvest, and Population Characteristics of Mourning Doves Banded in the Western Management Unit, 1964-1977
No abstract available.
Authors
R. E. Tomlinson, D.D. Dolton, H.M. Reeves, J. D. Nichols, L.A. McKibben
Distribution patterns during winter and fidelity to wintering areas of American black ducks
The distribution patterns during winter of American black ducks (Anas rubripes) were compared among age – sex classes using band recovery data. In addition, fidelity to wintering areas was compared between sexes and between coastal and inland wintering sites. We did not find evidence of age- or sex-specific differences in distribution patterns (P > 0.10). Black ducks exhibited a stronger fidelity
Authors
Duane R. Diefenbach, James D. Nichols, James E. Hines
Distribution patterns of American black duck and mallard winter band recoveries
We compared the distribution patterns of winter band recoveries of American black ducks (Anas rubripes) and mallards (A. platyrhynchos) banded in the same breeding areas. Young black ducks wintered northeast of young mallards but no differences in distribution patterns were detected between adult birds of the 2 species. Mallards exhibited greater temporal variation in distribution patterns and les
Authors
D.R. Diefenbach, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines
Postfledging survival of European starlings exposed as nestlings to an organophosphorus insecticide
To test the hypothesis that exposure to organophosphorus (OP) insecticides reduces postfledging survival of altricial birds, 16—d—old European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) were weighed and orally dosed with corn oil containing 6.0 mg of dicrotophos per kilogram of body mass or an equivalent exposure of pure corn oil (controls). Two days later, each survivor was weighed again and patagially tagged
Authors
K. L. Stromborg, C. E. Grue, J. D. Nichols, G. R. Hepp, J. E. Hines, H. C. Bourne
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 409
Mallard survival from local to immature stage in southwestern Saskatchewan
We used 3,670 reciveries from 32,647 bandings of mallards in southwestern Saskatchewan during 1956-59 to estimate the probability of surviving from the local, flightless stage to the flighted, immature stage. The probability of surviving from the local to the immature stage was 0.84 +/- 0.05 (SE) for males and females. The geographic distribution of direct recoveries was similar for the birds ba
Authors
J.B. Hestbeck, A. Dzubin, J.B. Gollop, J. D. Nichols
Evaluation and experimentation with duck management strategies
Our knowledge of the effects of hunting regulations on duck populations has been based largely on retrospective studies of historical data. We have reached the limits of what can be learned in this way. Future knowledge gains will likely come about only through experimentation and adaptive management.
Authors
J. D. Nichols, F.A. Johnson
A computer program for sample size computations for banding studies
Sample sizes necessary for estimating survival rates of banded birds, adults and young, are derived based on specified levels of precision. The banding study can be new or ongoing. The desired coefficient of variation (CV) for annual survival estimates, the CV for mean annual survival estimates, and the length of the study must be specified to compute sample sizes. A computer program is availab
Authors
K.R. Wilson, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines
Waterfowl mortality factors
The objectives of waterfowl management in North America involve population size and harvest. Any management action intended to influence population size must do so through one of four demographic variables: reproduction, mortality, immigration, and emigration. Mortality is especially important because hunting can be strongly influenced by management.
Authors
J. D. Nichols
Sex specificity of behavioral dominance and fasting endurance in wintering canvasbacks: Experimental results
Hand-reared canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) of varying sex ratios were maintained in pens during winter 1980-81 (3M-3F, 6M-0F, 0M-6F) and winter 1981-82 (4M-2F, 2M-4F) and fed two diets (control and stress). They were observed during feeding trials to determine intrasexual and intersexual aggressive activity. There was little evidence that either diet or sex ratio affected the total number of agg
Authors
M. C. Perry, J. D. Nichols, M.J. Conroy, H.H. Obrecht, B.K. Williams
Some considerations in modeling the mallard life cycle
We outline a population model proposed to accommodate the full life cycle of the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). Events during the breeding season are better understood than events at other times of the year, but recent findings suggest the importance of phenomena away from the breeding grounds. Several processes are discussed relative to mallard population dynamics. Compensatory mortality is a poor
Authors
D. H. Johnson, J. D. Nichols, M.J. Conroy, L.M. Cowardin
Some considerations in modeling the mallard life cycle
We outline a population model proposed to accommodate the full life cycle of the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos}. Events during the breeding season are better understood than events at other times of the year, but recent findings suggest the importance of phenomena away from the breeding grounds. Several processes are discussed relative to mallard population dynamics. Compensatory mortality is a poor
Authors
D. H. Johnson, J. D. Nichols, M.J. Conroy, L.M. Cowardin
Workshop summary: Species and population status and distribution
No abstract available.
Authors
J. D. Nichols, D.V. Derksen, R. L. Jarvis, John T. Ratti
Migration, Harvest, and Population Characteristics of Mourning Doves Banded in the Western Management Unit, 1964-1977
No abstract available.
Authors
R. E. Tomlinson, D.D. Dolton, H.M. Reeves, J. D. Nichols, L.A. McKibben
Distribution patterns during winter and fidelity to wintering areas of American black ducks
The distribution patterns during winter of American black ducks (Anas rubripes) were compared among age – sex classes using band recovery data. In addition, fidelity to wintering areas was compared between sexes and between coastal and inland wintering sites. We did not find evidence of age- or sex-specific differences in distribution patterns (P > 0.10). Black ducks exhibited a stronger fidelity
Authors
Duane R. Diefenbach, James D. Nichols, James E. Hines
Distribution patterns of American black duck and mallard winter band recoveries
We compared the distribution patterns of winter band recoveries of American black ducks (Anas rubripes) and mallards (A. platyrhynchos) banded in the same breeding areas. Young black ducks wintered northeast of young mallards but no differences in distribution patterns were detected between adult birds of the 2 species. Mallards exhibited greater temporal variation in distribution patterns and les
Authors
D.R. Diefenbach, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines
Postfledging survival of European starlings exposed as nestlings to an organophosphorus insecticide
To test the hypothesis that exposure to organophosphorus (OP) insecticides reduces postfledging survival of altricial birds, 16—d—old European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) were weighed and orally dosed with corn oil containing 6.0 mg of dicrotophos per kilogram of body mass or an equivalent exposure of pure corn oil (controls). Two days later, each survivor was weighed again and patagially tagged
Authors
K. L. Stromborg, C. E. Grue, J. D. Nichols, G. R. Hepp, J. E. Hines, H. C. Bourne