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
Standards for documenting and monitoring bird reintroduction projects Standards for documenting and monitoring bird reintroduction projects
It would be much easier to assess the effectiveness of different reintroduction methods, and so improve the success of reintroductions, if there was greater standardization in documentation of the methods and outcomes. We suggest a series of standards for documenting and monitoring the methods and outcomes associated with reintroduction projects for birds. Key suggestions are...
Authors
W.J. Sutherland, D. Armstrong, S.H.M. Butchart, J.M. Earnhardt, J. Ewen, I. Jamieson, C.G. Jones, R. Lee, P. Newbery, J.D. Nichols, K.A. Parker, F. Sarrazin, P.J. Seddon, N. Shah, V. Tatayah
Occurrence and distribution of Indian primates Occurrence and distribution of Indian primates
Global and regional species conservation efforts are hindered by poor distribution data and range maps. Many Indian primates face extinction, but assessments of population status are hindered by lack of reliable distribution data. We estimated the current occurrence and distribution of 15 Indian primates by applying occupancy models to field data from a country-wide survey of local...
Authors
K.K. Karanth, J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines
Inferences about landbird abundance from count data: recent advances and future directions Inferences about landbird abundance from count data: recent advances and future directions
We summarize results of a November 2006 workshop dealing with recent research on the estimation of landbird abundance from count data. Our conceptual framework includes a decomposition of the probability of detecting a bird potentially exposed to sampling efforts into four separate probabilities. Primary inference methods are described and include distance sampling, multiple observers...
Authors
J.D. Nichols, L. Thomas, P.B. Conn
Estimating latent time of maturation and survival costs of reproduction in continuous time from capture-recapture data Estimating latent time of maturation and survival costs of reproduction in continuous time from capture-recapture data
In many species, age or time of maturation and survival costs of reproduction may vary substantially within and among populations. We present a capture-mark-recapture model to estimate the latent individual trait distribution of time of maturation (or other irreversible transitions) as well as survival differences associated with the two states (representing costs of reproduction)...
Authors
T. Ergon, Nigel G. Yoccoz, J.D. Nichols
Filling a void: abundance estimation of North American populations of arctic geese using hunter recoveries Filling a void: abundance estimation of North American populations of arctic geese using hunter recoveries
We consider use of recoveries of marked birds harvested by hunters, in conjunction with continental harvest estimates, for drawing inferences about continental abundance of a select number of goose species. We review assumptions of this method, a version of the Lincoln?Petersen approach, and consider its utility as a tool for making decisions about harvest management in comparison to...
Authors
R.T. Alisauskas, K.L. Drake, J.D. Nichols
A hierarchical model for estimating density in camera-trap studies A hierarchical model for estimating density in camera-trap studies
Estimating animal density using capture–recapture data from arrays of detection devices such as camera traps has been problematic due to the movement of individuals and heterogeneity in capture probability among them induced by differential exposure to trapping. We develop a spatial capture–recapture model for estimating density from camera-trapping data which contains explicit models...
Authors
J. Andrew Royle, James D. Nichols, K.Ullas Karanth, Arjun M. Gopalaswamy
Modeling individual animal histories with multistate capture–recapture models Modeling individual animal histories with multistate capture–recapture models
Many fields of science begin with a phase of exploration and description, followed by investigations of the processes that account for observed patterns. The science of ecology is no exception, and recent decades have seen a focus on understanding key processes underlying the dynamics of ecological systems. In population ecology, emphasis has shifted from the state variable of population...
Authors
Jean-Dominique Lebreton, James D. Nichols, Richard J. Barker, Roger Pradel, Jeffrey A. Spendelow
Perturbation analysis for patch occupancy dynamics Perturbation analysis for patch occupancy dynamics
Perturbation analysis is a powerful tool to study population and community dynamics. This article describes expressions for sensitivity metrics reflecting changes in equilibrium occupancy resulting from small changes in the vital rates of patch occupancy dynamics (i.e., probabilities of local patch colonization and extinction). We illustrate our approach with a case study of occupancy...
Authors
Julien Martin, James D. Nichols, Carol L. McIntyre, Goncalo Ferraz, James E. Hines
Dynamic multistate site occupancy models to evaluate hypotheses relevant to conservation of Golden Eagles in Denali National Park, Alaska Dynamic multistate site occupancy models to evaluate hypotheses relevant to conservation of Golden Eagles in Denali National Park, Alaska
The recent development of multistate site occupancy models offers great opportunities to frame and solve decision problems for conservation that can be viewed in terms of site occupancy. These models have several characteristics (e.g., they account for detectability) that make them particularly well suited for addressing management and conservation problems. We applied multistate site...
Authors
Julien Martin, Carol L. McIntyre, James E. Hines, James D. Nichols, Joel A. Schmutz, Margaret C. MacCluskie
An evaluation of density-dependent and density-independent influences on population growth rates in Weddell seals An evaluation of density-dependent and density-independent influences on population growth rates in Weddell seals
Much of the existing literature that evaluates the roles of density-dependent and density-independent factors on population dynamics has been called into question in recent years because measurement errors were not properly dealt with in analyses. Using state-space models to account for measurement errors, we evaluated a set of competing models for a 22-year time series of mark-resight...
Authors
J.J. Rotella, W.A. Link, J.D. Nichols, G.L. Hadley, R.A. Garrott, K.M. Proffitt
Dynamic models for problems of species occurrence with multiple states Dynamic models for problems of species occurrence with multiple states
Recent extensions of occupancy modeling have focused not only on the distribution of species over space, but also on additional state variables (e.g., reproducing or not, with or without disease organisms, relative abundance categories) that provide extra information about occupied sites. These biologist-driven extensions are characterized by ambiguity in both species presence and...
Authors
Darryl I. MacKenzie, James D. Nichols, Mark E Seamans, R. J. Gutierrez
Modeling species occurrence dynamics with multiple states and imperfect detection Modeling species occurrence dynamics with multiple states and imperfect detection
Recent extensions of occupancy modeling have focused not only on the distribution of species over space, but also on additional state variables (e.g., reproducing or not, with or without disease organisms, relative abundance categories) that provide extra information about occupied sites. These biologist-driven extensions are characterized by ambiguity in both species presence and...
Authors
D.I. MacKenzie, J.D. Nichols, M.E. Seamans, R. J. Gutierrez
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 418
Standards for documenting and monitoring bird reintroduction projects Standards for documenting and monitoring bird reintroduction projects
It would be much easier to assess the effectiveness of different reintroduction methods, and so improve the success of reintroductions, if there was greater standardization in documentation of the methods and outcomes. We suggest a series of standards for documenting and monitoring the methods and outcomes associated with reintroduction projects for birds. Key suggestions are...
Authors
W.J. Sutherland, D. Armstrong, S.H.M. Butchart, J.M. Earnhardt, J. Ewen, I. Jamieson, C.G. Jones, R. Lee, P. Newbery, J.D. Nichols, K.A. Parker, F. Sarrazin, P.J. Seddon, N. Shah, V. Tatayah
Occurrence and distribution of Indian primates Occurrence and distribution of Indian primates
Global and regional species conservation efforts are hindered by poor distribution data and range maps. Many Indian primates face extinction, but assessments of population status are hindered by lack of reliable distribution data. We estimated the current occurrence and distribution of 15 Indian primates by applying occupancy models to field data from a country-wide survey of local...
Authors
K.K. Karanth, J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines
Inferences about landbird abundance from count data: recent advances and future directions Inferences about landbird abundance from count data: recent advances and future directions
We summarize results of a November 2006 workshop dealing with recent research on the estimation of landbird abundance from count data. Our conceptual framework includes a decomposition of the probability of detecting a bird potentially exposed to sampling efforts into four separate probabilities. Primary inference methods are described and include distance sampling, multiple observers...
Authors
J.D. Nichols, L. Thomas, P.B. Conn
Estimating latent time of maturation and survival costs of reproduction in continuous time from capture-recapture data Estimating latent time of maturation and survival costs of reproduction in continuous time from capture-recapture data
In many species, age or time of maturation and survival costs of reproduction may vary substantially within and among populations. We present a capture-mark-recapture model to estimate the latent individual trait distribution of time of maturation (or other irreversible transitions) as well as survival differences associated with the two states (representing costs of reproduction)...
Authors
T. Ergon, Nigel G. Yoccoz, J.D. Nichols
Filling a void: abundance estimation of North American populations of arctic geese using hunter recoveries Filling a void: abundance estimation of North American populations of arctic geese using hunter recoveries
We consider use of recoveries of marked birds harvested by hunters, in conjunction with continental harvest estimates, for drawing inferences about continental abundance of a select number of goose species. We review assumptions of this method, a version of the Lincoln?Petersen approach, and consider its utility as a tool for making decisions about harvest management in comparison to...
Authors
R.T. Alisauskas, K.L. Drake, J.D. Nichols
A hierarchical model for estimating density in camera-trap studies A hierarchical model for estimating density in camera-trap studies
Estimating animal density using capture–recapture data from arrays of detection devices such as camera traps has been problematic due to the movement of individuals and heterogeneity in capture probability among them induced by differential exposure to trapping. We develop a spatial capture–recapture model for estimating density from camera-trapping data which contains explicit models...
Authors
J. Andrew Royle, James D. Nichols, K.Ullas Karanth, Arjun M. Gopalaswamy
Modeling individual animal histories with multistate capture–recapture models Modeling individual animal histories with multistate capture–recapture models
Many fields of science begin with a phase of exploration and description, followed by investigations of the processes that account for observed patterns. The science of ecology is no exception, and recent decades have seen a focus on understanding key processes underlying the dynamics of ecological systems. In population ecology, emphasis has shifted from the state variable of population...
Authors
Jean-Dominique Lebreton, James D. Nichols, Richard J. Barker, Roger Pradel, Jeffrey A. Spendelow
Perturbation analysis for patch occupancy dynamics Perturbation analysis for patch occupancy dynamics
Perturbation analysis is a powerful tool to study population and community dynamics. This article describes expressions for sensitivity metrics reflecting changes in equilibrium occupancy resulting from small changes in the vital rates of patch occupancy dynamics (i.e., probabilities of local patch colonization and extinction). We illustrate our approach with a case study of occupancy...
Authors
Julien Martin, James D. Nichols, Carol L. McIntyre, Goncalo Ferraz, James E. Hines
Dynamic multistate site occupancy models to evaluate hypotheses relevant to conservation of Golden Eagles in Denali National Park, Alaska Dynamic multistate site occupancy models to evaluate hypotheses relevant to conservation of Golden Eagles in Denali National Park, Alaska
The recent development of multistate site occupancy models offers great opportunities to frame and solve decision problems for conservation that can be viewed in terms of site occupancy. These models have several characteristics (e.g., they account for detectability) that make them particularly well suited for addressing management and conservation problems. We applied multistate site...
Authors
Julien Martin, Carol L. McIntyre, James E. Hines, James D. Nichols, Joel A. Schmutz, Margaret C. MacCluskie
An evaluation of density-dependent and density-independent influences on population growth rates in Weddell seals An evaluation of density-dependent and density-independent influences on population growth rates in Weddell seals
Much of the existing literature that evaluates the roles of density-dependent and density-independent factors on population dynamics has been called into question in recent years because measurement errors were not properly dealt with in analyses. Using state-space models to account for measurement errors, we evaluated a set of competing models for a 22-year time series of mark-resight...
Authors
J.J. Rotella, W.A. Link, J.D. Nichols, G.L. Hadley, R.A. Garrott, K.M. Proffitt
Dynamic models for problems of species occurrence with multiple states Dynamic models for problems of species occurrence with multiple states
Recent extensions of occupancy modeling have focused not only on the distribution of species over space, but also on additional state variables (e.g., reproducing or not, with or without disease organisms, relative abundance categories) that provide extra information about occupied sites. These biologist-driven extensions are characterized by ambiguity in both species presence and...
Authors
Darryl I. MacKenzie, James D. Nichols, Mark E Seamans, R. J. Gutierrez
Modeling species occurrence dynamics with multiple states and imperfect detection Modeling species occurrence dynamics with multiple states and imperfect detection
Recent extensions of occupancy modeling have focused not only on the distribution of species over space, but also on additional state variables (e.g., reproducing or not, with or without disease organisms, relative abundance categories) that provide extra information about occupied sites. These biologist-driven extensions are characterized by ambiguity in both species presence and...
Authors
D.I. MacKenzie, J.D. Nichols, M.E. Seamans, R. J. Gutierrez