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
Intra-guild compensation regulates species richness in desert rodents: comment Intra-guild compensation regulates species richness in desert rodents: comment
No abstract available.
Authors
J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines, J.R. Sauer, T. Boulinier, E. Cam
Variation in probability of first reproduction of Weddell seals Variation in probability of first reproduction of Weddell seals
Summary 1. For many species, when to begin reproduction is an important life-history decision that varies by individual and can have substantial implications for lifetime reproductive success and fitness. 2. We estimated age-specific probabilities of first-time breeding and modelled variation in these rates to determine age at first reproduction and understand why it varies in a...
Authors
G.L. Hadley, J.J. Rotella, R.A. Garrott, J.D. Nichols
Assessing tiger population dynamics using photographic capture-recapture sampling Assessing tiger population dynamics using photographic capture-recapture sampling
Although wide-ranging, elusive, large carnivore species, such as the tiger, are of scientific and conservation interest, rigorous inferences about their population dynamics are scarce because of methodological problems of sampling populations at the required spatial and temporal scales. We report the application of a rigorous, noninvasive method for assessing tiger population dynamics to...
Authors
K. U. Karanth, J.D. Nichols, S. Kumar, J.E. Hines
Monitoring for conservation Monitoring for conservation
Human-mediated environmental changes have resulted in appropriate concern for the conservation of ecological systems and have led to the development of many ecological monitoring programs worldwide. Many programs that are identified with the purpose of `surveillance? represent an inefficient use of conservation funds and effort. Here, we revisit the 1964 paper by Platt and argue that his
Authors
J.D. Nichols, B. Kenneth Williams
Adaptive harvest management of North American waterfowl populations - recent successes and future prospects Adaptive harvest management of North American waterfowl populations - recent successes and future prospects
The history of North American waterfowl harvest management has been characterized by attempts to use population monitoring data to make informed harvest management decisions. Early attempts can be characterized as intuitive decision processes, and later efforts were guided increasingly by population models and associated predictions. In 1995, a formal adaptive management process was...
Authors
J.D. Nichols, M.C. Runge, Fred A. Johnson, B. Kenneth Williams
Occupancy Estimation and Modeling : Inferring Patterns and Dynamics of Species Occurrence Occupancy Estimation and Modeling : Inferring Patterns and Dynamics of Species Occurrence
This is the first book to examine the latest methods in analyzing presence/absence data surveys. Using four classes of models (single-species, single-season; single-species, multiple season; multiple-species, single-season; and multiple-species, multiple-season), the authors discuss the practical sampling situation, present a likelihood-based model enabling direct estimation of the...
Authors
D.I. MacKenzie, J.D. Nichols, J. Andrew Royle, K. H. Pollock, L.L. Bailey, J.E. Hines
Status and trends in demography of northern spotted owls, 1985-2003 Status and trends in demography of northern spotted owls, 1985-2003
We analyzed demographic data from northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) from 14 study areas in Washington, Oregon, and California for 1985-2003. The purpose of our analyses was to provide an assessment of the status and trends of northern spotted owl populations throughout most of their geographic range. The 14 study areas made up approximately 12% of the range of the...
Authors
R.G. Anthony, E.D. Forsman, A.B. Franklin, David R. Anderson, K.P. Burnham, Gary C. White, C.J. Schwarz, J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines, G.S. Olson, S.H. Ackers, L.S. Andrews, B.L. Biswell, P.C. Carlson, L.V. Diller, K.M. Dugger, K.E. Fehring, T.L. Fleming, R.P. Gerhardt, S.A. Gremel, R. J. Gutierrez, P.J. Happe, D.R. Herter, J.M. Higley, R.B. Horn, L.L. Irwin, P.J. Loschl, J.A. Reid, S.G. Sovern
Assessing spatial coupling in complex population dynamics using mutual prediction and continuity statistics Assessing spatial coupling in complex population dynamics using mutual prediction and continuity statistics
A number of important questions in ecology involve the possibility of interactions or ?coupling? among potential components of ecological systems. The basic question of whether two components are coupled (exhibit dynamical interdependence) is relevant to investigations of movement of animals over space, population regulation, food webs and trophic interactions, and is also useful in the...
Authors
J.M. Nichols, L. Moniz, J.D. Nichols, L.M. Pecora, E. Cooch
Individual quality, survival variation and patterns of phenotypic selection on body condition and timing of nesting in birds Individual quality, survival variation and patterns of phenotypic selection on body condition and timing of nesting in birds
Questions about individual variation in “quality” and fitness are of great interest to evolutionary and population ecologists. Such variation can be investigated using either a random effects approach or an approach that relies on identifying observable traits that are themselves correlated with fitness components. We used the latter approach with data from 1,925 individual females of...
Authors
Peter Blums, James D. Nichols, James E. Hines, Mark S. Lindberg, Aivars Mednis
Modelling occurrence and abundance of species when detection is imperfect Modelling occurrence and abundance of species when detection is imperfect
Relationships between species abundance and occupancy are of considerable interest in metapopulation biology and in macroecology. Such relationships may be described concisely using probability models that characterize variation in abundance of a species. However, estimation of the parameters of these models in most ecological problems is impaired by imperfect detection. When organisms...
Authors
J. Andrew Royle, James D. Nichols, Marc Kery
Improving inferences in population studies of rare species that are detected imperfectly Improving inferences in population studies of rare species that are detected imperfectly
For the vast majority of cases, it is highly unlikely that all the individuals of a population will be encountered during a study. Furthermore, it is unlikely that a constant fraction of the population is encountered over times, locations, or species to be compared. Hence, simple counts usually will not be good indices of population size. We recommend that detection probabilities (the...
Authors
Darry I. MacKenzie, James D. Nichols, N. Sutton, K. Kawanishi, Larissa Bailey
Double-observer approach to estimating egg mass abundance of vernal pool breeding amphibians Double-observer approach to estimating egg mass abundance of vernal pool breeding amphibians
Interest in seasonally flooded pools, and the status of associated amphibian populations, has initiated programs in the northeastern United States to document and monitor these habitats. Counting egg masses is an effective way to determine the population size of pool-breeding amphibians, such as wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) and spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum). However, bias is...
Authors
Evan H. Campbell Grant, Robin E. Jung, James D. Nichols, James E. Hines
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 417
Intra-guild compensation regulates species richness in desert rodents: comment Intra-guild compensation regulates species richness in desert rodents: comment
No abstract available.
Authors
J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines, J.R. Sauer, T. Boulinier, E. Cam
Variation in probability of first reproduction of Weddell seals Variation in probability of first reproduction of Weddell seals
Summary 1. For many species, when to begin reproduction is an important life-history decision that varies by individual and can have substantial implications for lifetime reproductive success and fitness. 2. We estimated age-specific probabilities of first-time breeding and modelled variation in these rates to determine age at first reproduction and understand why it varies in a...
Authors
G.L. Hadley, J.J. Rotella, R.A. Garrott, J.D. Nichols
Assessing tiger population dynamics using photographic capture-recapture sampling Assessing tiger population dynamics using photographic capture-recapture sampling
Although wide-ranging, elusive, large carnivore species, such as the tiger, are of scientific and conservation interest, rigorous inferences about their population dynamics are scarce because of methodological problems of sampling populations at the required spatial and temporal scales. We report the application of a rigorous, noninvasive method for assessing tiger population dynamics to...
Authors
K. U. Karanth, J.D. Nichols, S. Kumar, J.E. Hines
Monitoring for conservation Monitoring for conservation
Human-mediated environmental changes have resulted in appropriate concern for the conservation of ecological systems and have led to the development of many ecological monitoring programs worldwide. Many programs that are identified with the purpose of `surveillance? represent an inefficient use of conservation funds and effort. Here, we revisit the 1964 paper by Platt and argue that his
Authors
J.D. Nichols, B. Kenneth Williams
Adaptive harvest management of North American waterfowl populations - recent successes and future prospects Adaptive harvest management of North American waterfowl populations - recent successes and future prospects
The history of North American waterfowl harvest management has been characterized by attempts to use population monitoring data to make informed harvest management decisions. Early attempts can be characterized as intuitive decision processes, and later efforts were guided increasingly by population models and associated predictions. In 1995, a formal adaptive management process was...
Authors
J.D. Nichols, M.C. Runge, Fred A. Johnson, B. Kenneth Williams
Occupancy Estimation and Modeling : Inferring Patterns and Dynamics of Species Occurrence Occupancy Estimation and Modeling : Inferring Patterns and Dynamics of Species Occurrence
This is the first book to examine the latest methods in analyzing presence/absence data surveys. Using four classes of models (single-species, single-season; single-species, multiple season; multiple-species, single-season; and multiple-species, multiple-season), the authors discuss the practical sampling situation, present a likelihood-based model enabling direct estimation of the...
Authors
D.I. MacKenzie, J.D. Nichols, J. Andrew Royle, K. H. Pollock, L.L. Bailey, J.E. Hines
Status and trends in demography of northern spotted owls, 1985-2003 Status and trends in demography of northern spotted owls, 1985-2003
We analyzed demographic data from northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) from 14 study areas in Washington, Oregon, and California for 1985-2003. The purpose of our analyses was to provide an assessment of the status and trends of northern spotted owl populations throughout most of their geographic range. The 14 study areas made up approximately 12% of the range of the...
Authors
R.G. Anthony, E.D. Forsman, A.B. Franklin, David R. Anderson, K.P. Burnham, Gary C. White, C.J. Schwarz, J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines, G.S. Olson, S.H. Ackers, L.S. Andrews, B.L. Biswell, P.C. Carlson, L.V. Diller, K.M. Dugger, K.E. Fehring, T.L. Fleming, R.P. Gerhardt, S.A. Gremel, R. J. Gutierrez, P.J. Happe, D.R. Herter, J.M. Higley, R.B. Horn, L.L. Irwin, P.J. Loschl, J.A. Reid, S.G. Sovern
Assessing spatial coupling in complex population dynamics using mutual prediction and continuity statistics Assessing spatial coupling in complex population dynamics using mutual prediction and continuity statistics
A number of important questions in ecology involve the possibility of interactions or ?coupling? among potential components of ecological systems. The basic question of whether two components are coupled (exhibit dynamical interdependence) is relevant to investigations of movement of animals over space, population regulation, food webs and trophic interactions, and is also useful in the...
Authors
J.M. Nichols, L. Moniz, J.D. Nichols, L.M. Pecora, E. Cooch
Individual quality, survival variation and patterns of phenotypic selection on body condition and timing of nesting in birds Individual quality, survival variation and patterns of phenotypic selection on body condition and timing of nesting in birds
Questions about individual variation in “quality” and fitness are of great interest to evolutionary and population ecologists. Such variation can be investigated using either a random effects approach or an approach that relies on identifying observable traits that are themselves correlated with fitness components. We used the latter approach with data from 1,925 individual females of...
Authors
Peter Blums, James D. Nichols, James E. Hines, Mark S. Lindberg, Aivars Mednis
Modelling occurrence and abundance of species when detection is imperfect Modelling occurrence and abundance of species when detection is imperfect
Relationships between species abundance and occupancy are of considerable interest in metapopulation biology and in macroecology. Such relationships may be described concisely using probability models that characterize variation in abundance of a species. However, estimation of the parameters of these models in most ecological problems is impaired by imperfect detection. When organisms...
Authors
J. Andrew Royle, James D. Nichols, Marc Kery
Improving inferences in population studies of rare species that are detected imperfectly Improving inferences in population studies of rare species that are detected imperfectly
For the vast majority of cases, it is highly unlikely that all the individuals of a population will be encountered during a study. Furthermore, it is unlikely that a constant fraction of the population is encountered over times, locations, or species to be compared. Hence, simple counts usually will not be good indices of population size. We recommend that detection probabilities (the...
Authors
Darry I. MacKenzie, James D. Nichols, N. Sutton, K. Kawanishi, Larissa Bailey
Double-observer approach to estimating egg mass abundance of vernal pool breeding amphibians Double-observer approach to estimating egg mass abundance of vernal pool breeding amphibians
Interest in seasonally flooded pools, and the status of associated amphibian populations, has initiated programs in the northeastern United States to document and monitor these habitats. Counting egg masses is an effective way to determine the population size of pool-breeding amphibians, such as wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) and spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum). However, bias is...
Authors
Evan H. Campbell Grant, Robin E. Jung, James D. Nichols, James E. Hines