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
Effects of liberalized harvest regulations on wood ducks in the Atlantic Flyway
Beginning in 1977the FWS provided southern Atlantic Flyway states the opportunity to liberalize wood duck harvest regulations. Harvest subsequently increased throughout the flyway but appeared to be more a function of population growth than changes in regulations. In the South, harvest rate increased only slightly for young males and no decline in average survival was detected. We found no evidenc
Authors
F.A. Johnson, J. E. Hines, F. Montalbano, J. D. Nichols
Effect of Orthene on an unconfined population of the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus)
The possible impact on Microtus pennsylvanicus of ground applications of Orthene® insecticide was investigated in old-field habitats in northern Maryland during 1982 and 1983. The treatment grids in 1982 and 1983 were sprayed at 0.62 and 0.82 kg active ingredient/ha, respectively. A capture–recapture design robust to unequal capture probabilities was utilized to estimate population size, survival,
Authors
David A. Jett, James D. Nichols, James E. Hines
The relationship between body mass and survival of wintering canvasbacks
Mass and recapture histories of 6,000 Canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) banded in upper Chesapeake Bay were used to test two hypotheses: (1) early-winter body mass is associated with the probability of surviving the winter, and (2) early-winter body mass is associated with annual survival probability. Data were analyzed by a binary regression method that treated mass as a continuous variable and es
Authors
G. M. Haramis, J. D. Nichols, K. H. Pollock, J. E. Hines
On the use of enumeration estimators for interspecific comparisons with comments on a 'trappability' estimator
No abstract available.
Authors
J. D. Nichols
Estimating nest detection probabilities for white-winged dove nest transects in Tamaulipas, Mexico
Nest transects in nesting colonies provide one source of information on White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica asiatica) population status and reproduction. Nests are counted along transects using standardized field methods each year in Texas and northeastern Mexico by personnel associated with Mexico's Office of Flora and Fauna, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Authors
J. D. Nichols, R. E. Tomlinson, G. Waggerman
Physiological condition of autumn-banded mallards and its relationship to hunting vulnerability
An important topic of waterfowl ecology concerns the relationship between the physiological condition of ducks during the nonbreeding season and fitness, i.e., survival and future reproductive success. We investigated this subject using direct band recovery records of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) banded in autumn (1 Oct-15 Dec) 1981-83 in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) [USA]. A condition i
Authors
G. R. Hepp, R.J. Blohm, R. E. Reynolds, J. E. Hines, J. D. Nichols
Sources of variation in extinction rates, turnover, and diversity of marine invertebrate families during the Paleozoic
The authors present a new method that can be used to estimate taxonomic turnover in conjunction with stratigraphic range data for families in five phyla of Paleozoic marine invertebrates. Encounter probabilities varied among taxa and showed evidence of a decrease over time for the geologic series examined. The number of families varied substantially among the five phyla and showed some evidence
Authors
J. D. Nichols, R.W. Morris, C. Brownie, K. H. Pollock
Evaluation of biochemical, histopathological and population parameters of cotton rats inhabiting hazardous waste sites
No abstract available.
Authors
Barnett A. Rattner, Edward L. Flickinger, D. J. Hoffman, J. D. Nichols
Constant-parameter capture-recapture models
Jolly (1982, Biometrics 38, 301-321) presented modifications of the Jolly-Seber model for capture-recapture data, which assume constant survival and/or capture rates. Where appropriate, because of the reduced number of parameters, these models lead to more efficient estimators than the Jolly-Seber model. The tests to compare models given by Jolly do not make complete use of the data, and we presen
Authors
C. Brownie, J. E. Hines, J. D. Nichols
The role of heterogeneity in animal population dynamics
No abstract available.
Authors
D. H. Johnson, K.P. Burnham, J. D. Nichols
Dynamics of a black-capped chickadee population, 1958-1983
The dynamics of a wintering population of Black—capped Chickadees (Parus atricapillus) were studied from 1958—1983 using capture—recapture methods. The Jolly—Seber model was used to obtain annual estimates of population size, survival rate, and recruitment. The average estimated population size over this period was °160 birds. The average estimated number of new birds entering the population each
Authors
G. Loery, James D. Nichols
The need for accuracy in modelling: An example
The need for accurate information in modelling depends on the objectives of the effort. but trustworthy data are essential for a model intended for use in the management of natural resources. This point is illustrated by referring to a recently published model of canvasback ducks. We demonstrate that several key assumptions are not supported by biological evidence, and that inferences drawn from t
Authors
D. H. Johnson, M.J. Conroy, J. D. Nichols
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 409
Effects of liberalized harvest regulations on wood ducks in the Atlantic Flyway
Beginning in 1977the FWS provided southern Atlantic Flyway states the opportunity to liberalize wood duck harvest regulations. Harvest subsequently increased throughout the flyway but appeared to be more a function of population growth than changes in regulations. In the South, harvest rate increased only slightly for young males and no decline in average survival was detected. We found no evidenc
Authors
F.A. Johnson, J. E. Hines, F. Montalbano, J. D. Nichols
Effect of Orthene on an unconfined population of the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus)
The possible impact on Microtus pennsylvanicus of ground applications of Orthene® insecticide was investigated in old-field habitats in northern Maryland during 1982 and 1983. The treatment grids in 1982 and 1983 were sprayed at 0.62 and 0.82 kg active ingredient/ha, respectively. A capture–recapture design robust to unequal capture probabilities was utilized to estimate population size, survival,
Authors
David A. Jett, James D. Nichols, James E. Hines
The relationship between body mass and survival of wintering canvasbacks
Mass and recapture histories of 6,000 Canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) banded in upper Chesapeake Bay were used to test two hypotheses: (1) early-winter body mass is associated with the probability of surviving the winter, and (2) early-winter body mass is associated with annual survival probability. Data were analyzed by a binary regression method that treated mass as a continuous variable and es
Authors
G. M. Haramis, J. D. Nichols, K. H. Pollock, J. E. Hines
On the use of enumeration estimators for interspecific comparisons with comments on a 'trappability' estimator
No abstract available.
Authors
J. D. Nichols
Estimating nest detection probabilities for white-winged dove nest transects in Tamaulipas, Mexico
Nest transects in nesting colonies provide one source of information on White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica asiatica) population status and reproduction. Nests are counted along transects using standardized field methods each year in Texas and northeastern Mexico by personnel associated with Mexico's Office of Flora and Fauna, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Authors
J. D. Nichols, R. E. Tomlinson, G. Waggerman
Physiological condition of autumn-banded mallards and its relationship to hunting vulnerability
An important topic of waterfowl ecology concerns the relationship between the physiological condition of ducks during the nonbreeding season and fitness, i.e., survival and future reproductive success. We investigated this subject using direct band recovery records of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) banded in autumn (1 Oct-15 Dec) 1981-83 in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) [USA]. A condition i
Authors
G. R. Hepp, R.J. Blohm, R. E. Reynolds, J. E. Hines, J. D. Nichols
Sources of variation in extinction rates, turnover, and diversity of marine invertebrate families during the Paleozoic
The authors present a new method that can be used to estimate taxonomic turnover in conjunction with stratigraphic range data for families in five phyla of Paleozoic marine invertebrates. Encounter probabilities varied among taxa and showed evidence of a decrease over time for the geologic series examined. The number of families varied substantially among the five phyla and showed some evidence
Authors
J. D. Nichols, R.W. Morris, C. Brownie, K. H. Pollock
Evaluation of biochemical, histopathological and population parameters of cotton rats inhabiting hazardous waste sites
No abstract available.
Authors
Barnett A. Rattner, Edward L. Flickinger, D. J. Hoffman, J. D. Nichols
Constant-parameter capture-recapture models
Jolly (1982, Biometrics 38, 301-321) presented modifications of the Jolly-Seber model for capture-recapture data, which assume constant survival and/or capture rates. Where appropriate, because of the reduced number of parameters, these models lead to more efficient estimators than the Jolly-Seber model. The tests to compare models given by Jolly do not make complete use of the data, and we presen
Authors
C. Brownie, J. E. Hines, J. D. Nichols
The role of heterogeneity in animal population dynamics
No abstract available.
Authors
D. H. Johnson, K.P. Burnham, J. D. Nichols
Dynamics of a black-capped chickadee population, 1958-1983
The dynamics of a wintering population of Black—capped Chickadees (Parus atricapillus) were studied from 1958—1983 using capture—recapture methods. The Jolly—Seber model was used to obtain annual estimates of population size, survival rate, and recruitment. The average estimated population size over this period was °160 birds. The average estimated number of new birds entering the population each
Authors
G. Loery, James D. Nichols
The need for accuracy in modelling: An example
The need for accurate information in modelling depends on the objectives of the effort. but trustworthy data are essential for a model intended for use in the management of natural resources. This point is illustrated by referring to a recently published model of canvasback ducks. We demonstrate that several key assumptions are not supported by biological evidence, and that inferences drawn from t
Authors
D. H. Johnson, M.J. Conroy, J. D. Nichols