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: 417
Age-specific survival of male golden-cheeked warblers on the Fort Hood Military Reservation, Texas Age-specific survival of male golden-cheeked warblers on the Fort Hood Military Reservation, Texas
Population models are essential components of large-scale conservation and management plans for the federally endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler ( Setophaga chrysoparia; hereafter GCWA). However, existing models are based on vital rate estimates calculated using relatively small data sets that are now more than a decade old. We estimated more current, precise adult and juvenile apparent...
Authors
Adam Duarte, James E. Hines, James D. Nichols, Jeffrey S. Hatfield, Floyd W. Weckerly
Integrating land cover modeling and adaptive management to conserve endangered species and reduce catastrophic fire risk Integrating land cover modeling and adaptive management to conserve endangered species and reduce catastrophic fire risk
Land cover modeling is used to inform land management, but most often via a two-step process, where science informs how management alternatives can influence resources, and then, decision makers can use this information to make decisions. A more efficient process is to directly integrate science and decision-making, where science allows us to learn in order to better accomplish...
Authors
David Breininger, Brean Duncan, Mitchell J. Eaton, Fred Johnson, James Nichols
Multiseason occupancy models for correlated replicate surveys Multiseason occupancy models for correlated replicate surveys
Occupancy surveys collecting data from adjacent (sometimes correlated) spatial replicates have become relatively popular for logistical reasons. Hines et al. (2010) presented one approach to modelling such data for single-season occupancy surveys. Here, we present a multiseason analogue of this model (with corresponding software) for inferences about occupancy dynamics. We include a new
Authors
James E. Hines, James D. Nichols, Jaime Collazo
Reducing fatigue damage for ships in transit through structured decision making Reducing fatigue damage for ships in transit through structured decision making
Research in structural monitoring has focused primarily on drawing inference about the health of a structure from the structure’s response to ambient or applied excitation. Knowledge of the current state can then be used to predict structural integrity at a future time and, in principle, allows one to take action to improve safety, minimize ownership costs, and/or increase the operating...
Authors
J.M. Nichols, P.L. Fackler, K. Pacifici, K.D. Murphy, J.D. Nichols
Tailoring point counts for inference about avian density: dealing with nondetection and availability Tailoring point counts for inference about avian density: dealing with nondetection and availability
Point counts are commonly used for bird surveys, but interpretation is ambiguous unless there is an accounting for the imperfect detection of individuals. We show how repeated point counts, supplemented by observation distances, can account for two aspects of the counting process: (1) detection of birds conditional on being available for observation and (2) the availability of birds for...
Authors
Fred A. Johnson, Robert M. Dorazio, Traci D. Castellon, Julien Martin, Jay O. Garcia, James D. Nichols
Testing metapopulation concepts: effects of patch characteristics and neighborhood occupancy on the dynamics of an endangered lagomorph Testing metapopulation concepts: effects of patch characteristics and neighborhood occupancy on the dynamics of an endangered lagomorph
Metapopulation ecology is a field that is richer in theory than in empirical results. Many existing empirical studies use an incidence function approach based on spatial patterns and key assumptions about extinction and colonization rates. Here we recast these assumptions as hypotheses to be tested using 18 years of historic detection survey data combined with four years of data from a...
Authors
Mitchell J. Eaton, Phillip T. Hughes, James E. Hines, James D. Nichols
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 417
Age-specific survival of male golden-cheeked warblers on the Fort Hood Military Reservation, Texas Age-specific survival of male golden-cheeked warblers on the Fort Hood Military Reservation, Texas
Population models are essential components of large-scale conservation and management plans for the federally endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler ( Setophaga chrysoparia; hereafter GCWA). However, existing models are based on vital rate estimates calculated using relatively small data sets that are now more than a decade old. We estimated more current, precise adult and juvenile apparent...
Authors
Adam Duarte, James E. Hines, James D. Nichols, Jeffrey S. Hatfield, Floyd W. Weckerly
Integrating land cover modeling and adaptive management to conserve endangered species and reduce catastrophic fire risk Integrating land cover modeling and adaptive management to conserve endangered species and reduce catastrophic fire risk
Land cover modeling is used to inform land management, but most often via a two-step process, where science informs how management alternatives can influence resources, and then, decision makers can use this information to make decisions. A more efficient process is to directly integrate science and decision-making, where science allows us to learn in order to better accomplish...
Authors
David Breininger, Brean Duncan, Mitchell J. Eaton, Fred Johnson, James Nichols
Multiseason occupancy models for correlated replicate surveys Multiseason occupancy models for correlated replicate surveys
Occupancy surveys collecting data from adjacent (sometimes correlated) spatial replicates have become relatively popular for logistical reasons. Hines et al. (2010) presented one approach to modelling such data for single-season occupancy surveys. Here, we present a multiseason analogue of this model (with corresponding software) for inferences about occupancy dynamics. We include a new
Authors
James E. Hines, James D. Nichols, Jaime Collazo
Reducing fatigue damage for ships in transit through structured decision making Reducing fatigue damage for ships in transit through structured decision making
Research in structural monitoring has focused primarily on drawing inference about the health of a structure from the structure’s response to ambient or applied excitation. Knowledge of the current state can then be used to predict structural integrity at a future time and, in principle, allows one to take action to improve safety, minimize ownership costs, and/or increase the operating...
Authors
J.M. Nichols, P.L. Fackler, K. Pacifici, K.D. Murphy, J.D. Nichols
Tailoring point counts for inference about avian density: dealing with nondetection and availability Tailoring point counts for inference about avian density: dealing with nondetection and availability
Point counts are commonly used for bird surveys, but interpretation is ambiguous unless there is an accounting for the imperfect detection of individuals. We show how repeated point counts, supplemented by observation distances, can account for two aspects of the counting process: (1) detection of birds conditional on being available for observation and (2) the availability of birds for...
Authors
Fred A. Johnson, Robert M. Dorazio, Traci D. Castellon, Julien Martin, Jay O. Garcia, James D. Nichols
Testing metapopulation concepts: effects of patch characteristics and neighborhood occupancy on the dynamics of an endangered lagomorph Testing metapopulation concepts: effects of patch characteristics and neighborhood occupancy on the dynamics of an endangered lagomorph
Metapopulation ecology is a field that is richer in theory than in empirical results. Many existing empirical studies use an incidence function approach based on spatial patterns and key assumptions about extinction and colonization rates. Here we recast these assumptions as hypotheses to be tested using 18 years of historic detection survey data combined with four years of data from a...
Authors
Mitchell J. Eaton, Phillip T. Hughes, James E. Hines, James D. Nichols