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
Photographic sampling of elusive mammals in tropical forests Photographic sampling of elusive mammals in tropical forests
No abstract available.
Authors
K. U. Karanth, J.D. Nichols, S. Kumar
Population dynamics of the California Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis): a meta-analysis Population dynamics of the California Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis): a meta-analysis
We conducted a meta-analysis to provide a current assessment of the population characteristics of California Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis occidentalis) resident on four study areas in the Sierra Nevada and one study area in southern California. Our meta-analysis followed rigorous a priori analysis protocols, which we derived through extensive discussion during a week-long analysis...
Authors
A.B. Franklin, R. J. Gutierrez, J.D. Nichols, M.E. Seamans, Gary C. White, G.S. Zimmerman, J.E. Hines, T.E. Munton, W.S. LaHaye, J.A. Blakesley, G.N. Steger, B.R. Noon, D.W.H. Shaw, J.J. Keane, T. L. McDonald, S. Britting
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
On the use of the robust design with transient capture-recapture models On the use of the robust design with transient capture-recapture models
Capture-mark-recapture studies provide a useful mechanism for estimating the components of the population dynamics of birds, especially survival. In such studies, it is important that the population being captured matches the population of interest. In many studies, transients are captured along with the population of interest (e.g. resident breeders). Ignoring that phenomenon produces
Authors
J.E. Hines, W. L. Kendall, J.D. Nichols
Estimating site occupancy, colonization, and local extinction when a species is detected imperfectly Estimating site occupancy, colonization, and local extinction when a species is detected imperfectly
Few species are likely to be so evident that they will always be detected when present. Failing to allow for the possibility that a target species was present, but undetected, at a site will lead to biased estimates of site occupancy, colonization, and local extinction probabilities. These population vital rates are often of interest in long-term monitoring programs and metapopulation...
Authors
D.I. MacKenzie, J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines, M. G. Knutson, A.B. Franklin
On the use of attractor dimension as a feature in structural health monitoring On the use of attractor dimension as a feature in structural health monitoring
Recent works in the vibration-based structural health monitoring community have emphasised the use of correlation dimension as a discriminating statistic in seperating a damaged from undamaged response. This paper explores the utility of attractor dimension as a 'feature' and offers some comparisons between different metrics reflecting dimension. This focus is on evaluating the...
Authors
J.M. Nichols, L.N. Virgin, M.D. Todd, J.D. Nichols
Temporal variability of local abundance, sex ratio and activity in the Sardinian chalk hill blue butterfly Temporal variability of local abundance, sex ratio and activity in the Sardinian chalk hill blue butterfly
When capturing and marking of individuals is possible, the application of newly developed capture-recapture models can remove several sources of bias in the estimation of population parameters such as local abundance and sex ratio. For example, observation of distorted sex ratios in counts or captures can reflect either different abundances of the sexes or different sex-specific capture
Authors
P. Casula, J.D. Nichols
Spring hunting changes the regional movements of migrating greater snow geese Spring hunting changes the regional movements of migrating greater snow geese
1. Human-induced disturbance such as hunting may influence the migratory behaviour of long-distance migrants. In 1999 and 2000 a spring hunt of greater snow geese Anser caerulescens atlanticus occurred for the first time in North America since 1916, aimed at stopping population growth to protect natural habitats. 2. We evaluated the impact of this hunt on the staging movements of geese...
Authors
A. Bechet, J.-F. Giroux, G. Gauthier, J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines
Local extinction and turnover rates at the edge and interior of species' ranges Local extinction and turnover rates at the edge and interior of species' ranges
One hypothesis for the maintenance of the edge of a species' range suggests that more central (and abundant) populations are relatively stable and edge populations are less stable with increased local extinction and turnover rates. To date, estimates of such metrics are equivocal due to design and analysis flaws. Apparent increased estimates of extinction and turnover rates at the edge...
Authors
P.F. Doherty, T. Boulinier, J.D. Nichols
Estimating abundance from repeated presence-absence data or point counts Estimating abundance from repeated presence-absence data or point counts
We describe an approach for estimating occupancy rate or the proportion of area occupied when heterogeneity in detection probability exists as a result of variation in abundance of the organism under study. The key feature of such problems, which we exploit, is that variation in abundance induces variation in detection probability. Thus, heterogeneity in abundance can be modeled as...
Authors
J. Andrew Royle, J.D. Nichols
Factors affecting breeding dispersal of European ducks on Engure Marsh, Latvia Factors affecting breeding dispersal of European ducks on Engure Marsh, Latvia
1. We used up to 35 years of capture-recapture data from nearly 3300 individual female ducks nesting on Engure Marsh, Latvia, and multistate modelling to test predictions about the influence of environmental, habitat and management factors on breeding dispersal probability within the marsh. 2. Analyses based on observed dispersal distances of common pochards and tufted ducks provided no...
Authors
Peter Blums, J.D. Nichols, M. S. Lindberg, J.E. Hines, Aivars Mednis
Estimating rates of local extinction and colonization in colonial species and an extension to the metapopulation and community levels Estimating rates of local extinction and colonization in colonial species and an extension to the metapopulation and community levels
Coloniality has mainly been studied from an evolutionary perspective, but relatively few studies have developed methods for modelling colony dynamics. Changes in number of colonies over time provide a useful tool for predicting and evaluating the responses of colonial species to management and to environmental disturbance. Probabilistic Markov process models have been recently used to...
Authors
C. Barbraud, J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines, H. Hafner
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 417
Photographic sampling of elusive mammals in tropical forests Photographic sampling of elusive mammals in tropical forests
No abstract available.
Authors
K. U. Karanth, J.D. Nichols, S. Kumar
Population dynamics of the California Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis): a meta-analysis Population dynamics of the California Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis): a meta-analysis
We conducted a meta-analysis to provide a current assessment of the population characteristics of California Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis occidentalis) resident on four study areas in the Sierra Nevada and one study area in southern California. Our meta-analysis followed rigorous a priori analysis protocols, which we derived through extensive discussion during a week-long analysis...
Authors
A.B. Franklin, R. J. Gutierrez, J.D. Nichols, M.E. Seamans, Gary C. White, G.S. Zimmerman, J.E. Hines, T.E. Munton, W.S. LaHaye, J.A. Blakesley, G.N. Steger, B.R. Noon, D.W.H. Shaw, J.J. Keane, T. L. McDonald, S. Britting
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
On the use of the robust design with transient capture-recapture models On the use of the robust design with transient capture-recapture models
Capture-mark-recapture studies provide a useful mechanism for estimating the components of the population dynamics of birds, especially survival. In such studies, it is important that the population being captured matches the population of interest. In many studies, transients are captured along with the population of interest (e.g. resident breeders). Ignoring that phenomenon produces
Authors
J.E. Hines, W. L. Kendall, J.D. Nichols
Estimating site occupancy, colonization, and local extinction when a species is detected imperfectly Estimating site occupancy, colonization, and local extinction when a species is detected imperfectly
Few species are likely to be so evident that they will always be detected when present. Failing to allow for the possibility that a target species was present, but undetected, at a site will lead to biased estimates of site occupancy, colonization, and local extinction probabilities. These population vital rates are often of interest in long-term monitoring programs and metapopulation...
Authors
D.I. MacKenzie, J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines, M. G. Knutson, A.B. Franklin
On the use of attractor dimension as a feature in structural health monitoring On the use of attractor dimension as a feature in structural health monitoring
Recent works in the vibration-based structural health monitoring community have emphasised the use of correlation dimension as a discriminating statistic in seperating a damaged from undamaged response. This paper explores the utility of attractor dimension as a 'feature' and offers some comparisons between different metrics reflecting dimension. This focus is on evaluating the...
Authors
J.M. Nichols, L.N. Virgin, M.D. Todd, J.D. Nichols
Temporal variability of local abundance, sex ratio and activity in the Sardinian chalk hill blue butterfly Temporal variability of local abundance, sex ratio and activity in the Sardinian chalk hill blue butterfly
When capturing and marking of individuals is possible, the application of newly developed capture-recapture models can remove several sources of bias in the estimation of population parameters such as local abundance and sex ratio. For example, observation of distorted sex ratios in counts or captures can reflect either different abundances of the sexes or different sex-specific capture
Authors
P. Casula, J.D. Nichols
Spring hunting changes the regional movements of migrating greater snow geese Spring hunting changes the regional movements of migrating greater snow geese
1. Human-induced disturbance such as hunting may influence the migratory behaviour of long-distance migrants. In 1999 and 2000 a spring hunt of greater snow geese Anser caerulescens atlanticus occurred for the first time in North America since 1916, aimed at stopping population growth to protect natural habitats. 2. We evaluated the impact of this hunt on the staging movements of geese...
Authors
A. Bechet, J.-F. Giroux, G. Gauthier, J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines
Local extinction and turnover rates at the edge and interior of species' ranges Local extinction and turnover rates at the edge and interior of species' ranges
One hypothesis for the maintenance of the edge of a species' range suggests that more central (and abundant) populations are relatively stable and edge populations are less stable with increased local extinction and turnover rates. To date, estimates of such metrics are equivocal due to design and analysis flaws. Apparent increased estimates of extinction and turnover rates at the edge...
Authors
P.F. Doherty, T. Boulinier, J.D. Nichols
Estimating abundance from repeated presence-absence data or point counts Estimating abundance from repeated presence-absence data or point counts
We describe an approach for estimating occupancy rate or the proportion of area occupied when heterogeneity in detection probability exists as a result of variation in abundance of the organism under study. The key feature of such problems, which we exploit, is that variation in abundance induces variation in detection probability. Thus, heterogeneity in abundance can be modeled as...
Authors
J. Andrew Royle, J.D. Nichols
Factors affecting breeding dispersal of European ducks on Engure Marsh, Latvia Factors affecting breeding dispersal of European ducks on Engure Marsh, Latvia
1. We used up to 35 years of capture-recapture data from nearly 3300 individual female ducks nesting on Engure Marsh, Latvia, and multistate modelling to test predictions about the influence of environmental, habitat and management factors on breeding dispersal probability within the marsh. 2. Analyses based on observed dispersal distances of common pochards and tufted ducks provided no...
Authors
Peter Blums, J.D. Nichols, M. S. Lindberg, J.E. Hines, Aivars Mednis
Estimating rates of local extinction and colonization in colonial species and an extension to the metapopulation and community levels Estimating rates of local extinction and colonization in colonial species and an extension to the metapopulation and community levels
Coloniality has mainly been studied from an evolutionary perspective, but relatively few studies have developed methods for modelling colony dynamics. Changes in number of colonies over time provide a useful tool for predicting and evaluating the responses of colonial species to management and to environmental disturbance. Probabilistic Markov process models have been recently used to...
Authors
C. Barbraud, J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines, H. Hafner