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
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
Modern open-population capture-recapture models Modern open-population capture-recapture models
No abstract available.
Authors
J.D. Nichols
Approaches for the direct estimation of rate of increase in population size using capture-recapture data Approaches for the direct estimation of rate of increase in population size using capture-recapture data
Recent developments in the modeling of capture-recapture data permit the direct estimation and modeling of population growth rate Pradel (1996). Resulting estimates reflect changes in numbers of birds on study areas, and such changes result from movement as well as survival and reproductive recruitment. One measure of the 'importance' of a demographic vital rate to population growth is...
Authors
J.D. Nichols, T. Scott Sillett, J.E. Hines, Richard T. Holmes
Statistical approaches to the analysis of point count data: A little extra information can go a long way Statistical approaches to the analysis of point count data: A little extra information can go a long way
Point counts are a standard sampling procedure for many bird species, but lingering concerns still exist about the quality of information produced from the method. It is well known that variation in observer ability and environmental conditions can influence the detection probability of birds in point counts, but many biologists have been reluctant to abandon point counts in favor of...
Authors
G.L. Farnsworth, J.D. Nichols, J.R. Sauer, S.G. Fancy, K. H. Pollock, S.A. Shriner, T.R. Simons
Estimating the number of animals in wildlife populations Estimating the number of animals in wildlife populations
INTRODUCTION In 1938, Howard M. Wight devoted 9 pages, which was an entire chapter in the first wildlife management techniques manual, to what he termed 'census' methods. As books and chapters such as this attest, the volume of literature on this subject has grown tremendously. Abundance estimation remains an active area of biometrical research, as reflected in the many differences...
Authors
R.A. Lancia, W. L. Kendall, K. H. Pollock, J.D. Nichols
General constraints on sampling wildlife on FIA plots General constraints on sampling wildlife on FIA plots
This paper reviews the constraints to sampling wildlife populations at FIA points. Wildlife sampling programs must have well-defined goals and provide information adequate to meet those goals. Investigators should choose a State variable based on information needs and the spatial sampling scale. We discuss estimation-based methods for three State variables: species richness, abundance...
Authors
L.L. Bailey, J.R. Sauer, J.D. Nichols, P.H. Geissler
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
Evolution of quantitative methods for the study and management of avian populations: on the importance of individual contributions Evolution of quantitative methods for the study and management of avian populations: on the importance of individual contributions
The EURING meetings and the scientists who have attended them have contributed substantially to the growth of knowledge in the field of estimating parameters of animal populations. The contributions of David R. Anderson to process modeling, parameter estimation and decision analysis are briefly reviewed. Metrics are considered for assessing individual contributions to a field of inquiry...
Authors
J.D. Nichols
Investigating species co-occurrence patterns when species are detected imperfectly Investigating species co-occurrence patterns when species are detected imperfectly
1. Over the last 30 years there has been a great deal of interest in investigating patterns of species co-occurrence across a number of locations, which has led to the development of numerous methods to determine whether there is evidence that a particular pattern may not have occurred by random chance. 2. A key aspect that seems to have been largely overlooked is the possibility that...
Authors
D.I. MacKenzie, L.L. Bailey, J.D. Nichols
Abundance estimation and conservation biology Abundance estimation and conservation biology
Abundance is the state variable of interest in most population–level ecological research and in most programs involving management and conservation of animal populations. Abundance is the single parameter of interest in capture–recapture models for closed populations (e.g., Darroch, 1958; Otis et al., 1978; Chao, 2001). The initial capture–recapture models developed for partially...
Authors
J.D. Nichols, D.I. MacKenzie
Occupancy as a surrogate for abundance estimation Occupancy as a surrogate for abundance estimation
In many monitoring programmes it may be prohibitively expensive to estimate the actual abundance of a bird species in a defined area, particularly at large spatial scales, or where birds occur at very low densities. Often it may be appropriate to consider the proportion of area occupied by the species as an alternative state variable. However, as with abundance estimation, issues of
Authors
D.I. MacKenzie, J.D. Nichols
Tigers and their prey: Predicting carnivore densities from prey abundance Tigers and their prey: Predicting carnivore densities from prey abundance
The goal of ecology is to understand interactions that determine the distribution and abundance of organisms. In principle, ecologists should be able to identify a small number of limiting resources for a species of interest, estimate densities of these resources at different locations across the landscape, and then use these estimates to predict the density of the focal species at these...
Authors
K. U. Karanth, J.D. Nichols, S. Kumar, W.A. Link, J.E. Hines
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 417
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
Modern open-population capture-recapture models Modern open-population capture-recapture models
No abstract available.
Authors
J.D. Nichols
Approaches for the direct estimation of rate of increase in population size using capture-recapture data Approaches for the direct estimation of rate of increase in population size using capture-recapture data
Recent developments in the modeling of capture-recapture data permit the direct estimation and modeling of population growth rate Pradel (1996). Resulting estimates reflect changes in numbers of birds on study areas, and such changes result from movement as well as survival and reproductive recruitment. One measure of the 'importance' of a demographic vital rate to population growth is...
Authors
J.D. Nichols, T. Scott Sillett, J.E. Hines, Richard T. Holmes
Statistical approaches to the analysis of point count data: A little extra information can go a long way Statistical approaches to the analysis of point count data: A little extra information can go a long way
Point counts are a standard sampling procedure for many bird species, but lingering concerns still exist about the quality of information produced from the method. It is well known that variation in observer ability and environmental conditions can influence the detection probability of birds in point counts, but many biologists have been reluctant to abandon point counts in favor of...
Authors
G.L. Farnsworth, J.D. Nichols, J.R. Sauer, S.G. Fancy, K. H. Pollock, S.A. Shriner, T.R. Simons
Estimating the number of animals in wildlife populations Estimating the number of animals in wildlife populations
INTRODUCTION In 1938, Howard M. Wight devoted 9 pages, which was an entire chapter in the first wildlife management techniques manual, to what he termed 'census' methods. As books and chapters such as this attest, the volume of literature on this subject has grown tremendously. Abundance estimation remains an active area of biometrical research, as reflected in the many differences...
Authors
R.A. Lancia, W. L. Kendall, K. H. Pollock, J.D. Nichols
General constraints on sampling wildlife on FIA plots General constraints on sampling wildlife on FIA plots
This paper reviews the constraints to sampling wildlife populations at FIA points. Wildlife sampling programs must have well-defined goals and provide information adequate to meet those goals. Investigators should choose a State variable based on information needs and the spatial sampling scale. We discuss estimation-based methods for three State variables: species richness, abundance...
Authors
L.L. Bailey, J.R. Sauer, J.D. Nichols, P.H. Geissler
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
Evolution of quantitative methods for the study and management of avian populations: on the importance of individual contributions Evolution of quantitative methods for the study and management of avian populations: on the importance of individual contributions
The EURING meetings and the scientists who have attended them have contributed substantially to the growth of knowledge in the field of estimating parameters of animal populations. The contributions of David R. Anderson to process modeling, parameter estimation and decision analysis are briefly reviewed. Metrics are considered for assessing individual contributions to a field of inquiry...
Authors
J.D. Nichols
Investigating species co-occurrence patterns when species are detected imperfectly Investigating species co-occurrence patterns when species are detected imperfectly
1. Over the last 30 years there has been a great deal of interest in investigating patterns of species co-occurrence across a number of locations, which has led to the development of numerous methods to determine whether there is evidence that a particular pattern may not have occurred by random chance. 2. A key aspect that seems to have been largely overlooked is the possibility that...
Authors
D.I. MacKenzie, L.L. Bailey, J.D. Nichols
Abundance estimation and conservation biology Abundance estimation and conservation biology
Abundance is the state variable of interest in most population–level ecological research and in most programs involving management and conservation of animal populations. Abundance is the single parameter of interest in capture–recapture models for closed populations (e.g., Darroch, 1958; Otis et al., 1978; Chao, 2001). The initial capture–recapture models developed for partially...
Authors
J.D. Nichols, D.I. MacKenzie
Occupancy as a surrogate for abundance estimation Occupancy as a surrogate for abundance estimation
In many monitoring programmes it may be prohibitively expensive to estimate the actual abundance of a bird species in a defined area, particularly at large spatial scales, or where birds occur at very low densities. Often it may be appropriate to consider the proportion of area occupied by the species as an alternative state variable. However, as with abundance estimation, issues of
Authors
D.I. MacKenzie, J.D. Nichols
Tigers and their prey: Predicting carnivore densities from prey abundance Tigers and their prey: Predicting carnivore densities from prey abundance
The goal of ecology is to understand interactions that determine the distribution and abundance of organisms. In principle, ecologists should be able to identify a small number of limiting resources for a species of interest, estimate densities of these resources at different locations across the landscape, and then use these estimates to predict the density of the focal species at these...
Authors
K. U. Karanth, J.D. Nichols, S. Kumar, W.A. Link, J.E. Hines