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: 418
The use of a robust capture-recapture design in small mammal population studies: A field example with Microtus pennsylvanicus The use of a robust capture-recapture design in small mammal population studies: A field example with Microtus pennsylvanicus
The robust design of Pollock (1982) was used to estimate parameters of a Maryland M. pennsylvanicus population. Closed model tests provided strong evidence of heterogeneity of capture probability, and model M eta (Otis et al., 1978) was selected as the most appropriate model for estimating population size. The Jolly-Seber model goodness-of-fit test indicated rejection of the model for...
Authors
James D. Nichols, Kenneth H. Pollock, James E. Hines
The relationship between harvest and survival rates of mallards: A straightforward approach with partitioned data sets The relationship between harvest and survival rates of mallards: A straightforward approach with partitioned data sets
We randomly partitioned mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) bandings and recoveries from each of a number of selected reference areas into 2 groups and estimated survival and harvest rates for each area and group. This procedure produced independent vectors of survival- and harvest-rate estimates, which were used to test the general hypothesis that mallard survival and harvest rates were...
Authors
James D. Nichols, James E. Hines
Estimating taxonomic diversity, extinction rates, and speciation rates from fossil data using capture-recapture models Estimating taxonomic diversity, extinction rates, and speciation rates from fossil data using capture-recapture models
Methods currently used to estimate taxonomic extinction probabilities from fossil data generally assume that the probability of encountering a specimen in a particular stratum, given that the taxon was extant in the time period and location represented by the stratum, either equals 1.0 or else is a constant for all strata. Methods used to estimate taxonomic diversity (number of taxa) and
Authors
J.D. Nichols, K. H. Pollock
Factors affecting the distribution of mallards wintering in the Mississippi alluvial valley Factors affecting the distribution of mallards wintering in the Mississippi alluvial valley
The Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) is the principal wintering area for Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) in the Mississippi Flyway. Here, we consider it a distinct habitat (sensu Fretwell 1972), i.e. fitness is relatively homogeneous among ducks within the MAV but different from that of ducks in other such habitats. We analyzed recovery distributions of Mallards banded preseason (July...
Authors
James D. Nichols, Kenneth J. Reinecke, James E. Hines
Afternoon closure of hunting and recovery rates of mallards banded in Minnesota Afternoon closure of hunting and recovery rates of mallards banded in Minnesota
No abstract available.
Authors
Ronald E. Kirby, James E. Hines, James D. Nichols
Sample size estimates: A preliminary analysis of sample sizes required for mark-recovery and mark-resighting studies of manatees (Trichechus manatus) in Florida Sample size estimates: A preliminary analysis of sample sizes required for mark-recovery and mark-resighting studies of manatees (Trichechus manatus) in Florida
No abstract available.
Authors
J.M. Packard, J.D. Nichols
Estimation methodology in contemporary small mammal capture-recapture studies Estimation methodology in contemporary small mammal capture-recapture studies
Estimators of population size and survival rate based on the Jolly-Seber capture-recapture model and the “enumeration method” are described. Enumeration estimators are shown to estimate complicated functions of capture and survival probabilities and, in the case of the population size estimator, population size. Frequently-listed reasons for preferring enumeration estimators are...
Authors
J.D. Nichols, K. H. Pollock
Additional comments on the assumption of homogeneous survival rates in modern bird banding estimation models Additional comments on the assumption of homogeneous survival rates in modern bird banding estimation models
We examined the problem of heterogeneous survival and recovery rates in bird banding estimation models. We suggest that positively correlated subgroup survival and recovery probabilities may result from winter banding operations and that this situation will produce positively biased survival rate estimates. The magnitude of the survival estimate bias depends on the proportion of the...
Authors
James D. Nichols, S.L. Stokes, James E. Hines, M.J. Conroy
Regional population inferences for the American woodcock Regional population inferences for the American woodcock
Woodcock (Philohela minor) bandings and recoveries from 1967 to 1977 were analyzed from two large banding reference areas corresponding to existing Eastern and Central harvest units. We examined temporal, age-specific, sex-specific, and geographic variation in both survival and recovery rates, using recently developed stochastic models. Survival rate estimates for females were higher...
Authors
T.J. Dwyer, J.D. Nichols
Breeding-ground habitat conditions and the survival of mallards Breeding-ground habitat conditions and the survival of mallards
The relationship between habitat conditions in prairie breeding areas of North America and mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) survival rates was investigated. Annual survival-rate estimates for mallards generally were higher during years of high May pond numbers and low mallards-per-pond ratios than during years of low pond numbers and high ratios. This tendency was most pronounced among males...
Authors
James D. Nichols, Richard S. Pospahala, James E. Hines
Remarks on the use of mark-recapture methodology in estimating avian population size Remarks on the use of mark-recapture methodology in estimating avian population size
No abstract available.
Authors
J.D. Nichols, B.R. Noon, S.L. Stokes, J.E. Hines
Importance of structural stability to success of mourning dove nests Importance of structural stability to success of mourning dove nests
Studies of nest-site selection and nesting habitats often involve a "characterization" of nests and of habitats in which nests are found. Our objective in the present work is to identify nest-site characteristics that are associated with variation in components of Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) fitness (e.g. the probability of a nest succeeding), as opposed to simply "characterizing"...
Authors
R.A. Coon, J.D. Nichols, H.F. Percival
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 418
The use of a robust capture-recapture design in small mammal population studies: A field example with Microtus pennsylvanicus The use of a robust capture-recapture design in small mammal population studies: A field example with Microtus pennsylvanicus
The robust design of Pollock (1982) was used to estimate parameters of a Maryland M. pennsylvanicus population. Closed model tests provided strong evidence of heterogeneity of capture probability, and model M eta (Otis et al., 1978) was selected as the most appropriate model for estimating population size. The Jolly-Seber model goodness-of-fit test indicated rejection of the model for...
Authors
James D. Nichols, Kenneth H. Pollock, James E. Hines
The relationship between harvest and survival rates of mallards: A straightforward approach with partitioned data sets The relationship between harvest and survival rates of mallards: A straightforward approach with partitioned data sets
We randomly partitioned mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) bandings and recoveries from each of a number of selected reference areas into 2 groups and estimated survival and harvest rates for each area and group. This procedure produced independent vectors of survival- and harvest-rate estimates, which were used to test the general hypothesis that mallard survival and harvest rates were...
Authors
James D. Nichols, James E. Hines
Estimating taxonomic diversity, extinction rates, and speciation rates from fossil data using capture-recapture models Estimating taxonomic diversity, extinction rates, and speciation rates from fossil data using capture-recapture models
Methods currently used to estimate taxonomic extinction probabilities from fossil data generally assume that the probability of encountering a specimen in a particular stratum, given that the taxon was extant in the time period and location represented by the stratum, either equals 1.0 or else is a constant for all strata. Methods used to estimate taxonomic diversity (number of taxa) and
Authors
J.D. Nichols, K. H. Pollock
Factors affecting the distribution of mallards wintering in the Mississippi alluvial valley Factors affecting the distribution of mallards wintering in the Mississippi alluvial valley
The Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) is the principal wintering area for Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) in the Mississippi Flyway. Here, we consider it a distinct habitat (sensu Fretwell 1972), i.e. fitness is relatively homogeneous among ducks within the MAV but different from that of ducks in other such habitats. We analyzed recovery distributions of Mallards banded preseason (July...
Authors
James D. Nichols, Kenneth J. Reinecke, James E. Hines
Afternoon closure of hunting and recovery rates of mallards banded in Minnesota Afternoon closure of hunting and recovery rates of mallards banded in Minnesota
No abstract available.
Authors
Ronald E. Kirby, James E. Hines, James D. Nichols
Sample size estimates: A preliminary analysis of sample sizes required for mark-recovery and mark-resighting studies of manatees (Trichechus manatus) in Florida Sample size estimates: A preliminary analysis of sample sizes required for mark-recovery and mark-resighting studies of manatees (Trichechus manatus) in Florida
No abstract available.
Authors
J.M. Packard, J.D. Nichols
Estimation methodology in contemporary small mammal capture-recapture studies Estimation methodology in contemporary small mammal capture-recapture studies
Estimators of population size and survival rate based on the Jolly-Seber capture-recapture model and the “enumeration method” are described. Enumeration estimators are shown to estimate complicated functions of capture and survival probabilities and, in the case of the population size estimator, population size. Frequently-listed reasons for preferring enumeration estimators are...
Authors
J.D. Nichols, K. H. Pollock
Additional comments on the assumption of homogeneous survival rates in modern bird banding estimation models Additional comments on the assumption of homogeneous survival rates in modern bird banding estimation models
We examined the problem of heterogeneous survival and recovery rates in bird banding estimation models. We suggest that positively correlated subgroup survival and recovery probabilities may result from winter banding operations and that this situation will produce positively biased survival rate estimates. The magnitude of the survival estimate bias depends on the proportion of the...
Authors
James D. Nichols, S.L. Stokes, James E. Hines, M.J. Conroy
Regional population inferences for the American woodcock Regional population inferences for the American woodcock
Woodcock (Philohela minor) bandings and recoveries from 1967 to 1977 were analyzed from two large banding reference areas corresponding to existing Eastern and Central harvest units. We examined temporal, age-specific, sex-specific, and geographic variation in both survival and recovery rates, using recently developed stochastic models. Survival rate estimates for females were higher...
Authors
T.J. Dwyer, J.D. Nichols
Breeding-ground habitat conditions and the survival of mallards Breeding-ground habitat conditions and the survival of mallards
The relationship between habitat conditions in prairie breeding areas of North America and mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) survival rates was investigated. Annual survival-rate estimates for mallards generally were higher during years of high May pond numbers and low mallards-per-pond ratios than during years of low pond numbers and high ratios. This tendency was most pronounced among males...
Authors
James D. Nichols, Richard S. Pospahala, James E. Hines
Remarks on the use of mark-recapture methodology in estimating avian population size Remarks on the use of mark-recapture methodology in estimating avian population size
No abstract available.
Authors
J.D. Nichols, B.R. Noon, S.L. Stokes, J.E. Hines
Importance of structural stability to success of mourning dove nests Importance of structural stability to success of mourning dove nests
Studies of nest-site selection and nesting habitats often involve a "characterization" of nests and of habitats in which nests are found. Our objective in the present work is to identify nest-site characteristics that are associated with variation in components of Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) fitness (e.g. the probability of a nest succeeding), as opposed to simply "characterizing"...
Authors
R.A. Coon, J.D. Nichols, H.F. Percival