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
Inferences about nested subsets structure when not all species are detected Inferences about nested subsets structure when not all species are detected
Comparisons of species composition among ecological communities of different size have often provided evidence that the species in communities with lower species richness form nested subsets of the species in larger communities. In the vast majority of studies, the question of nested subsets has been addressed using information on presence-absence, where a '0' is interpreted as the...
Authors
E. Cam, J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines, J.R. Sauer
Simultaneous use of mark-recapture and radiotelemetry to estimate survival, movement, and capture rates Simultaneous use of mark-recapture and radiotelemetry to estimate survival, movement, and capture rates
Biologists often estimate separate survival and movement rates from radio-telemetry and mark-recapture data from the same study population. We describe a method for combining these data types in a single model to obtain joint, potentially less biased estimates of survival and movement that use all available data. We furnish an example using wood thrushes (Hylocichla mustelina) captured...
Authors
L.A. Powell, M.J. Conroy, J.E. Hines, J.D. Nichols, D.G. Krementz
Estimation of contributions to population growth: A reverse-time capture-recapture approach Estimation of contributions to population growth: A reverse-time capture-recapture approach
We consider methods for estimating the relative contributions of different demographic components, and their associated vital rates, to population growth. We identify components of the population at time i (including a component for animals not in the population at i). For each such component we ask the following question: “What is the probability that an individual randomly selected...
Authors
J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines, J.D. Lebreton, R. Pradel
Demography of forest birds in Panama: How do transients affect estimates of survival rates? Demography of forest birds in Panama: How do transients affect estimates of survival rates?
Estimates of annual survival rates of neotropical birds have proven controversial. Traditionally, tropical birds were thought to have high survival rates for their size, but analyses of a multispecies assemblage from Panama by Karr et al. (1990) provided a counterexample to that view. One criticism of that study has been that the estimates were biased by transient birds captured only...
Authors
J. D. Brawn, J.R. Karr, J.D. Nichols, W.D. Robinson
Modeling data from double-tagging experiments to estimate heterogeneous rates of tag shedding in lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) Modeling data from double-tagging experiments to estimate heterogeneous rates of tag shedding in lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush)
Data from mark-recapture studies are used to estimate population rates such as exploitation, survival, and growth. Many of these applications assume negligible tag loss, so tag shedding can be a significant problem. Various tag shedding models have been developed for use with data from double-tagging experiments, including models to estimate constant instantaneous rates, time-dependent...
Authors
Mary C. Fabrizio, James D. Nichols, James E. Hines, Bruce L. Swanson, Stephen T. Schram
Demographic parameter estimation for experimental landscape studies on small mammal populations Demographic parameter estimation for experimental landscape studies on small mammal populations
No abstract available.
Authors
J.D. Nichols, C.J. Coffman
Annual survival of Snail Kites in Florida: Radio telemetry versus capture-resighting data Annual survival of Snail Kites in Florida: Radio telemetry versus capture-resighting data
We estimated annual survival of Snail Kites (Rostrhamus sociabilis) in Florida using the Kaplan-Meier estimator with data from 271 radio-tagged birds over a three-year period and capture-recapture (resighting) models with data from 1,319 banded birds over a six-year period. We tested the hypothesis that survival differed among three age classes using both data sources. We tested...
Authors
R.E. Bennetts, V.J. Dreitz, W.M. Kitchens, J.E. Hines, J.D. Nichols
Quantitative studies of bird movement: A methodological review Quantitative studies of bird movement: A methodological review
The past several years have seen development of a number of statistical models and methods for drawing inferences about bird movement using data from marked individuals. It can be difficult to keep up with this rapid development of new methods, so our purpose here is to categorize and review methods for drawing inferences about avian movement. We also outline recommendations about future...
Authors
J.D. Nichols, A. Kaiser
COMDYN: Software to study the dynamics of animal communities using a capture-recapture approach COMDYN: Software to study the dynamics of animal communities using a capture-recapture approach
COMDYN is a set of programs developed for estimation of parameters associated with community dynamics using count data from two locations or time periods. It is Internet-based, allowing remote users either to input their own data, or to use data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey for analysis. COMDYN allows probability of detection to vary among species and among locations and...
Authors
J.E. Hines, T. Boulinier, J.D. Nichols, J.R. Sauer, K. H. Pollock
Estimation of tiger densities in India using photographic captures and recaptures Estimation of tiger densities in India using photographic captures and recaptures
The tiger (Panthera tigris) is an endangered, large felid whose demographic status is poorly known across its distributional range in Asia. Previously applied methods for estimating tiger abundance, using total counts based on tracks, have proved unreliable. Lack of reliable data on tiger densities not only has constrained our ability to understand the ecological factors shaping...
Authors
K. Ullas Karanth, James D. Nichols
Are adult nonbreeders prudent parents? The kittiwake model Are adult nonbreeders prudent parents? The kittiwake model
Understanding evolutionary consequences of intermittent breeding (nonbreeding in individuals that previously bred) requires investigation of the relationships between adult breeding state and two demographic parameters: survival probability and subsequent breeding probability. One major difficulty raised by comparing the demographic features of breeders and nonbreeders as estimated from...
Authors
Emmanuelle Cam, James E. Hines, J. #NAME? Monnat, James D. Nichols, Etienne Danchin
Estimation of temporal variability of survival in animal populations Estimation of temporal variability of survival in animal populations
Temporal variation of demographic characteristics for animal populations is of interest to both ecologists and biological modelers. The standard deviation of a series of estimated parameter values (e.g., estimated population size) or some function thereof (e.g., log of the estimated parameters) is commonly used as a measure of temporal variability. These measures of temporal variation...
Authors
William R. Gould, James D. Nichols
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 417
Inferences about nested subsets structure when not all species are detected Inferences about nested subsets structure when not all species are detected
Comparisons of species composition among ecological communities of different size have often provided evidence that the species in communities with lower species richness form nested subsets of the species in larger communities. In the vast majority of studies, the question of nested subsets has been addressed using information on presence-absence, where a '0' is interpreted as the...
Authors
E. Cam, J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines, J.R. Sauer
Simultaneous use of mark-recapture and radiotelemetry to estimate survival, movement, and capture rates Simultaneous use of mark-recapture and radiotelemetry to estimate survival, movement, and capture rates
Biologists often estimate separate survival and movement rates from radio-telemetry and mark-recapture data from the same study population. We describe a method for combining these data types in a single model to obtain joint, potentially less biased estimates of survival and movement that use all available data. We furnish an example using wood thrushes (Hylocichla mustelina) captured...
Authors
L.A. Powell, M.J. Conroy, J.E. Hines, J.D. Nichols, D.G. Krementz
Estimation of contributions to population growth: A reverse-time capture-recapture approach Estimation of contributions to population growth: A reverse-time capture-recapture approach
We consider methods for estimating the relative contributions of different demographic components, and their associated vital rates, to population growth. We identify components of the population at time i (including a component for animals not in the population at i). For each such component we ask the following question: “What is the probability that an individual randomly selected...
Authors
J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines, J.D. Lebreton, R. Pradel
Demography of forest birds in Panama: How do transients affect estimates of survival rates? Demography of forest birds in Panama: How do transients affect estimates of survival rates?
Estimates of annual survival rates of neotropical birds have proven controversial. Traditionally, tropical birds were thought to have high survival rates for their size, but analyses of a multispecies assemblage from Panama by Karr et al. (1990) provided a counterexample to that view. One criticism of that study has been that the estimates were biased by transient birds captured only...
Authors
J. D. Brawn, J.R. Karr, J.D. Nichols, W.D. Robinson
Modeling data from double-tagging experiments to estimate heterogeneous rates of tag shedding in lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) Modeling data from double-tagging experiments to estimate heterogeneous rates of tag shedding in lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush)
Data from mark-recapture studies are used to estimate population rates such as exploitation, survival, and growth. Many of these applications assume negligible tag loss, so tag shedding can be a significant problem. Various tag shedding models have been developed for use with data from double-tagging experiments, including models to estimate constant instantaneous rates, time-dependent...
Authors
Mary C. Fabrizio, James D. Nichols, James E. Hines, Bruce L. Swanson, Stephen T. Schram
Demographic parameter estimation for experimental landscape studies on small mammal populations Demographic parameter estimation for experimental landscape studies on small mammal populations
No abstract available.
Authors
J.D. Nichols, C.J. Coffman
Annual survival of Snail Kites in Florida: Radio telemetry versus capture-resighting data Annual survival of Snail Kites in Florida: Radio telemetry versus capture-resighting data
We estimated annual survival of Snail Kites (Rostrhamus sociabilis) in Florida using the Kaplan-Meier estimator with data from 271 radio-tagged birds over a three-year period and capture-recapture (resighting) models with data from 1,319 banded birds over a six-year period. We tested the hypothesis that survival differed among three age classes using both data sources. We tested...
Authors
R.E. Bennetts, V.J. Dreitz, W.M. Kitchens, J.E. Hines, J.D. Nichols
Quantitative studies of bird movement: A methodological review Quantitative studies of bird movement: A methodological review
The past several years have seen development of a number of statistical models and methods for drawing inferences about bird movement using data from marked individuals. It can be difficult to keep up with this rapid development of new methods, so our purpose here is to categorize and review methods for drawing inferences about avian movement. We also outline recommendations about future...
Authors
J.D. Nichols, A. Kaiser
COMDYN: Software to study the dynamics of animal communities using a capture-recapture approach COMDYN: Software to study the dynamics of animal communities using a capture-recapture approach
COMDYN is a set of programs developed for estimation of parameters associated with community dynamics using count data from two locations or time periods. It is Internet-based, allowing remote users either to input their own data, or to use data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey for analysis. COMDYN allows probability of detection to vary among species and among locations and...
Authors
J.E. Hines, T. Boulinier, J.D. Nichols, J.R. Sauer, K. H. Pollock
Estimation of tiger densities in India using photographic captures and recaptures Estimation of tiger densities in India using photographic captures and recaptures
The tiger (Panthera tigris) is an endangered, large felid whose demographic status is poorly known across its distributional range in Asia. Previously applied methods for estimating tiger abundance, using total counts based on tracks, have proved unreliable. Lack of reliable data on tiger densities not only has constrained our ability to understand the ecological factors shaping...
Authors
K. Ullas Karanth, James D. Nichols
Are adult nonbreeders prudent parents? The kittiwake model Are adult nonbreeders prudent parents? The kittiwake model
Understanding evolutionary consequences of intermittent breeding (nonbreeding in individuals that previously bred) requires investigation of the relationships between adult breeding state and two demographic parameters: survival probability and subsequent breeding probability. One major difficulty raised by comparing the demographic features of breeders and nonbreeders as estimated from...
Authors
Emmanuelle Cam, James E. Hines, J. #NAME? Monnat, James D. Nichols, Etienne Danchin
Estimation of temporal variability of survival in animal populations Estimation of temporal variability of survival in animal populations
Temporal variation of demographic characteristics for animal populations is of interest to both ecologists and biological modelers. The standard deviation of a series of estimated parameter values (e.g., estimated population size) or some function thereof (e.g., log of the estimated parameters) is commonly used as a measure of temporal variability. These measures of temporal variation...
Authors
William R. Gould, James D. Nichols