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
Band reporting rates for mallards with reward bands of different dollar values Band reporting rates for mallards with reward bands of different dollar values
Adult male mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were banded in summer 1987 with reward bands of different dollar values (0-$400) to determine the lowest dollar value that would yield a reporting rate approaching 1.0. During the 1987-88 and 1988-89 hunting seasons, rewards of between 50 and $100 were required to yield a reporting rate near 1.0. We estimated reporting rate of standard bands to be...
Authors
James D. Nichols, Robert J. Blohm, Ronald E. Reynolds, Robert E. Trost, James E. Hines, Judith P. Bladen
Survival and band recovery rates of mallards in New Zealand Survival and band recovery rates of mallards in New Zealand
Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were banded at 4 discrete study areas in New Zealand. We used hunting season recoveries in conjunction with band recovery models to estimate annual survival and recovery rates and to test hypotheses about sources of variation in these rates. Recovery rates varied among the 4 areas and from year to year within areas. Recovery rates were generally higher for...
Authors
James D. Nichols, Murray Williams, Tom Caithness
Survival rates of birds of tropical and temperate forests: Will the dogma survive? Survival rates of birds of tropical and temperate forests: Will the dogma survive?
Survival rates of tropical forest birds are widely assumed to be high relative to the survival rates of temperate forest birds. Much life-history theory is based on this assumption despite the lack of empirical data to support it. We provide the first detailed comparison of survival rates of tropical and temperate forest birds based on extensive data bases and modern capture-recapture...
Authors
James R. Karr, James D. Nichols, M. K. Klimkiewicz, J. D. Brawn
Estimation of recruitment from immigration versus in situ reproduction using Pollock's robust design Estimation of recruitment from immigration versus in situ reproduction using Pollock's robust design
Recruitment to animal populations can occur through both immigration and in situ reproduction. These two components of recruitment are conceptually distinct and lead to different mechanistic models of population dynamics. We describe a capture—recapture design that can be used to obtain separate estimates of two recruitment components. We then illustrate the use of our method and...
Authors
James D. Nichols, Kenneth H. Pollock
Effects of tillage practices and carbofuran exposure on small mammals Effects of tillage practices and carbofuran exposure on small mammals
We compared population estimates, body mass, movement, and blood chemistry of small mammals between conventionally tilled and no-till cornfields in Maryland and Pennsylvania to evaluate the effects of tillage practices and carbofuran exposure on small mammals. Estimates suggest that populations of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) were not significantly related (P > 0.05) to...
Authors
Peter H. Albers, Greg L. Linder, James D. Nichols
Capture-recapture estimation of prebreeding survival rate for birds exhibiting delayed maturation Capture-recapture estimation of prebreeding survival rate for birds exhibiting delayed maturation
Many species of seabirds exhibit delayed maturity and do not return to the natal colony to breed for several years after fledging. Capture-recapture studies are frequently conducted at such breeding colonies and often include marking of young birds. However, because of the absence of these birds from the natal colony during the first few years after banding, the data do not fit neatly...
Authors
J.D. Nichols, J. A. Spendelow, J.E. Hines
American woodcock winter distribution and fidelity to wintering areas American woodcock winter distribution and fidelity to wintering areas
We examined winter distribution and fidelity to wintering areas for the American Woodcock (Scolopax minor), which exhibits reversed, sexual size dimorphism. Band-recovery data revealed no difference in winter distributions of different age/sex classes for woodcock from the same breeding ares. Similarly, band recoveries from woodcock banded on wintering grounds revealed no difference in...
Authors
Duane R. Diefenbach, E.L. Derleth, W. Matthew Vander Haegen, J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines
Modeling and the management of migratory birds Modeling and the management of migratory birds
Mathematical modeling of migratory bird populations is reviewed in the context of migratory bird management. We focus on dynamic models of waterfowl, since most management-oriented migratory bird models concern waterfowl species. We describe the management context for these modeling efforts, with a focus on large-scale operational data collection programs and on processes by which...
Authors
B. Kenneth Williams, J.D. Nichols
Small mammal populations at hazardous waste disposal sites near Houston, Texas, USA Small mammal populations at hazardous waste disposal sites near Houston, Texas, USA
Small mammals were trapped, tagged and recaptured in 0·45 ha plots at six hazardous industrial waste disposal sites to determine if populations, body mass and age structures were different from paired control site plots. Low numbers of six species of small mammals were captured on industrial waste sites or control sites. Only populations of hispid cotton rats at industrial waste sites...
Authors
Edward L. Flickinger, J.D. Nichols
Wood duck population dynamics: a review Wood duck population dynamics: a review
No abstract available.
Authors
J.D. Nichols, Fred A. Johnson
Statistical inference for capture-recapture experiments Statistical inference for capture-recapture experiments
This monograph presents a detailed, practical exposition on the design, analysis, and interpretation of capture-recapture studies. The Lincoln-Petersen model (Chapter 2) and the closed population models (Chapter 3) are presented only briefly because these models have been covered in detail elsewhere. The Jolly- Seber open population model, which is central to the monograph, is covered in...
Authors
Kenneth H. Pollock, James D. Nichols, Cavell Brownie, James E. Hines
Temporal and spatial variation in survival rates of the tropical lizard Anolis limifrons Temporal and spatial variation in survival rates of the tropical lizard Anolis limifrons
We evaluated survival of the lizard, Anolis limifrons at two sites, AVA and Lutz, from 1976-1979 and during two periods at Lutz site, 1971-1976 vs 1976-1979, at Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Survival of adult females and males did not differ nor did survival of juveniles and adults. In contrast, survival was significantly higher at Lutz site during 1971-1976 than during 1976-1979 and...
Authors
R.M. Andrews, J.D. Nichols
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 417
Band reporting rates for mallards with reward bands of different dollar values Band reporting rates for mallards with reward bands of different dollar values
Adult male mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were banded in summer 1987 with reward bands of different dollar values (0-$400) to determine the lowest dollar value that would yield a reporting rate approaching 1.0. During the 1987-88 and 1988-89 hunting seasons, rewards of between 50 and $100 were required to yield a reporting rate near 1.0. We estimated reporting rate of standard bands to be...
Authors
James D. Nichols, Robert J. Blohm, Ronald E. Reynolds, Robert E. Trost, James E. Hines, Judith P. Bladen
Survival and band recovery rates of mallards in New Zealand Survival and band recovery rates of mallards in New Zealand
Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were banded at 4 discrete study areas in New Zealand. We used hunting season recoveries in conjunction with band recovery models to estimate annual survival and recovery rates and to test hypotheses about sources of variation in these rates. Recovery rates varied among the 4 areas and from year to year within areas. Recovery rates were generally higher for...
Authors
James D. Nichols, Murray Williams, Tom Caithness
Survival rates of birds of tropical and temperate forests: Will the dogma survive? Survival rates of birds of tropical and temperate forests: Will the dogma survive?
Survival rates of tropical forest birds are widely assumed to be high relative to the survival rates of temperate forest birds. Much life-history theory is based on this assumption despite the lack of empirical data to support it. We provide the first detailed comparison of survival rates of tropical and temperate forest birds based on extensive data bases and modern capture-recapture...
Authors
James R. Karr, James D. Nichols, M. K. Klimkiewicz, J. D. Brawn
Estimation of recruitment from immigration versus in situ reproduction using Pollock's robust design Estimation of recruitment from immigration versus in situ reproduction using Pollock's robust design
Recruitment to animal populations can occur through both immigration and in situ reproduction. These two components of recruitment are conceptually distinct and lead to different mechanistic models of population dynamics. We describe a capture—recapture design that can be used to obtain separate estimates of two recruitment components. We then illustrate the use of our method and...
Authors
James D. Nichols, Kenneth H. Pollock
Effects of tillage practices and carbofuran exposure on small mammals Effects of tillage practices and carbofuran exposure on small mammals
We compared population estimates, body mass, movement, and blood chemistry of small mammals between conventionally tilled and no-till cornfields in Maryland and Pennsylvania to evaluate the effects of tillage practices and carbofuran exposure on small mammals. Estimates suggest that populations of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) were not significantly related (P > 0.05) to...
Authors
Peter H. Albers, Greg L. Linder, James D. Nichols
Capture-recapture estimation of prebreeding survival rate for birds exhibiting delayed maturation Capture-recapture estimation of prebreeding survival rate for birds exhibiting delayed maturation
Many species of seabirds exhibit delayed maturity and do not return to the natal colony to breed for several years after fledging. Capture-recapture studies are frequently conducted at such breeding colonies and often include marking of young birds. However, because of the absence of these birds from the natal colony during the first few years after banding, the data do not fit neatly...
Authors
J.D. Nichols, J. A. Spendelow, J.E. Hines
American woodcock winter distribution and fidelity to wintering areas American woodcock winter distribution and fidelity to wintering areas
We examined winter distribution and fidelity to wintering areas for the American Woodcock (Scolopax minor), which exhibits reversed, sexual size dimorphism. Band-recovery data revealed no difference in winter distributions of different age/sex classes for woodcock from the same breeding ares. Similarly, band recoveries from woodcock banded on wintering grounds revealed no difference in...
Authors
Duane R. Diefenbach, E.L. Derleth, W. Matthew Vander Haegen, J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines
Modeling and the management of migratory birds Modeling and the management of migratory birds
Mathematical modeling of migratory bird populations is reviewed in the context of migratory bird management. We focus on dynamic models of waterfowl, since most management-oriented migratory bird models concern waterfowl species. We describe the management context for these modeling efforts, with a focus on large-scale operational data collection programs and on processes by which...
Authors
B. Kenneth Williams, J.D. Nichols
Small mammal populations at hazardous waste disposal sites near Houston, Texas, USA Small mammal populations at hazardous waste disposal sites near Houston, Texas, USA
Small mammals were trapped, tagged and recaptured in 0·45 ha plots at six hazardous industrial waste disposal sites to determine if populations, body mass and age structures were different from paired control site plots. Low numbers of six species of small mammals were captured on industrial waste sites or control sites. Only populations of hispid cotton rats at industrial waste sites...
Authors
Edward L. Flickinger, J.D. Nichols
Wood duck population dynamics: a review Wood duck population dynamics: a review
No abstract available.
Authors
J.D. Nichols, Fred A. Johnson
Statistical inference for capture-recapture experiments Statistical inference for capture-recapture experiments
This monograph presents a detailed, practical exposition on the design, analysis, and interpretation of capture-recapture studies. The Lincoln-Petersen model (Chapter 2) and the closed population models (Chapter 3) are presented only briefly because these models have been covered in detail elsewhere. The Jolly- Seber open population model, which is central to the monograph, is covered in...
Authors
Kenneth H. Pollock, James D. Nichols, Cavell Brownie, James E. Hines
Temporal and spatial variation in survival rates of the tropical lizard Anolis limifrons Temporal and spatial variation in survival rates of the tropical lizard Anolis limifrons
We evaluated survival of the lizard, Anolis limifrons at two sites, AVA and Lutz, from 1976-1979 and during two periods at Lutz site, 1971-1976 vs 1976-1979, at Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Survival of adult females and males did not differ nor did survival of juveniles and adults. In contrast, survival was significantly higher at Lutz site during 1971-1976 than during 1976-1979 and...
Authors
R.M. Andrews, J.D. Nichols