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
On condition bias and band-recovery data from large-scale waterfowl banding programs
No abstract available.
Authors
K.P. Burnham, J. D. Nichols
Goodness-of-fit tests for open capture-recapture models
General goodness-of-fit tests for the Jolly-Seber model are proposed. These tests are based on conditional arguments using minimal sufficient statistics. The tests are shown to be of simple hypergeometric form so that a series of independent contingency table chi-square tests can be performed. The relationship of these tests to other proposed tests is discussed. This is followed by a simulati
Authors
K. H. Pollock, J. E. Hines, J. 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
Douglas H. Johnson, Michael J. Conroy, James D. Nichols
Optimal timing in biological processes
A general approach for obtaining solutions to a class of biological optimization problems is provided. The general problem is one of determining the appropriate time to take some action, when the action can be taken only once during some finite time frame. The approach can also be extended to cover a number of other problems involving animal choice (e.g., mate selection, habitat selection). Ret
Authors
Byron K. Williams, James D. Nichols
Sources of variation in survival rates of winter-banded mallards
No abstract available.
Authors
J. E. Hines, J. D. Nichols
Compensatory mortality in waterfowl populations: A review of the evidence and implications for research and management
No abstract available.
Authors
J. D. Nichols, M.J. Conroy, D.R. Anderson, K.P. Burnham
Effects of permanent trap response in capture probability on Jolly-Seber capture-recapture model estimates
The authors examine bias in Jolly-Seber estimates of survival rate and population size resulting from permanent trap response in capture probability.
Authors
J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines, K. H. Pollock
Observer visitation frequency and success of mourning dove nests: A field experiment
Field studies of nesting success generally require visits by the investigator to the nests under study. Such visits may themselves influence nesting success, however, and this possibility has been discussed and investigated by a number of workers with a variety of bird species. Livezey (1980) reviewed the relevant literature for duck nests and noted that most studies failed to demonstrate differen
Authors
J. D. Nichols, H.F. Percival, R.A. Coon, M.J. Conroy, Gary L. Hensler, J. E. Hines
The use of a robust capture-recapture design in small mammal population studies: A field example with Microtus pennsylvanicus
The robust design of Pollock (1982) was used to estimate parameters of a Maryland M. pennsylvanicus population. Closed model tests provided strong evidence of heterogeneity of capture probability, and model M eta (Otis et al., 1978) was selected as the most appropriate model for estimating population size. The Jolly-Seber model goodness-of-fit test indicated rejection of the model for this data se
Authors
James D. Nichols, Kenneth H. Pollock, James E. Hines
The use of auxiliary variables in capture-recapture and removal experiments
The dependence of animal capture probabilities on auxiliary variables is an important practical problem which has not been considered in the development of estimation procedures for capture-recapture and removal experiments. In this paper the linear logistic binary regression model is used to relate the probability of capture to continuous auxiliary variables. The auxiliary variables could be en
Authors
K. H. Pollock, J. E. Hines, J. D. Nichols
Testing for variation in taxonomic extinction probabilities: a suggested methodology and some results
Several important questions in evolutionary biology and paleobiology involve sources of variation in extinction rates. In all cases of which we are aware, extinction rates have been estimated from data in which the probability that an observation (e.g., a fossil taxon) will occur is related both to extinction rates and to what we term encounter probabilities. Any statistical method for analyzing f
Authors
M.J. Conroy, J. D. Nichols
Program LINLOGN users instructions
No abstract available.
Authors
J. E. Hines, K. H. Pollock, J. D. Nichols
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 409
On condition bias and band-recovery data from large-scale waterfowl banding programs
No abstract available.
Authors
K.P. Burnham, J. D. Nichols
Goodness-of-fit tests for open capture-recapture models
General goodness-of-fit tests for the Jolly-Seber model are proposed. These tests are based on conditional arguments using minimal sufficient statistics. The tests are shown to be of simple hypergeometric form so that a series of independent contingency table chi-square tests can be performed. The relationship of these tests to other proposed tests is discussed. This is followed by a simulati
Authors
K. H. Pollock, J. E. Hines, J. 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
Douglas H. Johnson, Michael J. Conroy, James D. Nichols
Optimal timing in biological processes
A general approach for obtaining solutions to a class of biological optimization problems is provided. The general problem is one of determining the appropriate time to take some action, when the action can be taken only once during some finite time frame. The approach can also be extended to cover a number of other problems involving animal choice (e.g., mate selection, habitat selection). Ret
Authors
Byron K. Williams, James D. Nichols
Sources of variation in survival rates of winter-banded mallards
No abstract available.
Authors
J. E. Hines, J. D. Nichols
Compensatory mortality in waterfowl populations: A review of the evidence and implications for research and management
No abstract available.
Authors
J. D. Nichols, M.J. Conroy, D.R. Anderson, K.P. Burnham
Effects of permanent trap response in capture probability on Jolly-Seber capture-recapture model estimates
The authors examine bias in Jolly-Seber estimates of survival rate and population size resulting from permanent trap response in capture probability.
Authors
J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines, K. H. Pollock
Observer visitation frequency and success of mourning dove nests: A field experiment
Field studies of nesting success generally require visits by the investigator to the nests under study. Such visits may themselves influence nesting success, however, and this possibility has been discussed and investigated by a number of workers with a variety of bird species. Livezey (1980) reviewed the relevant literature for duck nests and noted that most studies failed to demonstrate differen
Authors
J. D. Nichols, H.F. Percival, R.A. Coon, M.J. Conroy, Gary L. Hensler, J. E. Hines
The use of a robust capture-recapture design in small mammal population studies: A field example with Microtus pennsylvanicus
The robust design of Pollock (1982) was used to estimate parameters of a Maryland M. pennsylvanicus population. Closed model tests provided strong evidence of heterogeneity of capture probability, and model M eta (Otis et al., 1978) was selected as the most appropriate model for estimating population size. The Jolly-Seber model goodness-of-fit test indicated rejection of the model for this data se
Authors
James D. Nichols, Kenneth H. Pollock, James E. Hines
The use of auxiliary variables in capture-recapture and removal experiments
The dependence of animal capture probabilities on auxiliary variables is an important practical problem which has not been considered in the development of estimation procedures for capture-recapture and removal experiments. In this paper the linear logistic binary regression model is used to relate the probability of capture to continuous auxiliary variables. The auxiliary variables could be en
Authors
K. H. Pollock, J. E. Hines, J. D. Nichols
Testing for variation in taxonomic extinction probabilities: a suggested methodology and some results
Several important questions in evolutionary biology and paleobiology involve sources of variation in extinction rates. In all cases of which we are aware, extinction rates have been estimated from data in which the probability that an observation (e.g., a fossil taxon) will occur is related both to extinction rates and to what we term encounter probabilities. Any statistical method for analyzing f
Authors
M.J. Conroy, J. D. Nichols
Program LINLOGN users instructions
No abstract available.
Authors
J. E. Hines, K. H. Pollock, J. D. Nichols