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
Habitat-specific breeder survival of Florida Scrub-Jays: Inferences from multistate models Habitat-specific breeder survival of Florida Scrub-Jays: Inferences from multistate models
Quantifying habitat-specific survival and changes in habitat quality within disturbance-prone habitats is critical for understanding population dynamics and variation in fitness, and for managing degraded ecosystems. We used 18 years of color-banding data and multistate capture-recapture models to test whether habitat quality within territories influences survival and detection...
Authors
D.R. Breininger, J.D. Nichols, G.M. Carter, D.M. Oddy
Patterns and determinants of mammal species occurrence in India Patterns and determinants of mammal species occurrence in India
Many Indian mammals face range contraction and extinction, but assessments of their population status are hindered by the lack of reliable distribution data and range maps. 2. We estimated the current geographical ranges of 20 species of large mammals by applying occupancy models to data from country-wide expert. We modelled species in relation to ecological and social covariates...
Authors
K.K. Karanth, J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines, K. U. Karanth, N.L. Christensen
Modeling co-occurrence of northern spotted and barred owls: accounting for detection probability differences Modeling co-occurrence of northern spotted and barred owls: accounting for detection probability differences
Barred owls (Strix varia) have recently expanded their range and now encompass the entire range of the northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina). This expansion has led to two important issues of concern for management of northern spotted owls: (1) possible competitive interactions between the two species that could contribute to population declines of northern spotted owls, and...
Authors
Larissa L. Bailey, Janice A. Reid, Eric D. Forsman, James D. Nichols
An inventory of terrestrial mammals at national parks in the Northeast Temperate Network and Sagamore Hill National Historic Site An inventory of terrestrial mammals at national parks in the Northeast Temperate Network and Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
An inventory of mammals was conducted during 2004 at nine national park sites in the Northeast Temperate Network (NETN): Acadia National Park (NP), Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park (NHP), Minute Man NHP, Morristown NHP, Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Site (NHS), Saint-Gaudens NHS, Saugus Iron Works NHS, Saratoga NHP, and Weir Farm NHS. Sagamore Hill NHS, part...
Authors
Andrew T. Gilbert, Allan F. O’Connell, Elizabeth M. Annand, Neil W. Talancy, John R. Sauer, James D. Nichols
Temporal variation in adult survival rates of Roseate Terns during periods of increasing and declining populations Temporal variation in adult survival rates of Roseate Terns during periods of increasing and declining populations
We used 19 years of mark-recapture/resighting data collected on 11, 020 birds from 1988-2006 at five colony sites in Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut, USA, to examine temporal variation in the survival rates of adult Roseate Terns (Sterna dougallii) during periods of overall population increase (1988-2000) and decline (2000-2006). Roseate Terns nested at only one colony site in...
Authors
J. A. Spendelow, J.E. Hines, J.D. Nichols, I.C.T. Nisbet, G. Cormons, H. Hays, J.J. Hatch, C.S. Mostello
Multi-scale occupancy estimation and modelling using multiple detection methods Multi-scale occupancy estimation and modelling using multiple detection methods
Occupancy estimation and modelling based on detection–nondetection data provide an effective way of exploring change in a species’ distribution across time and space in cases where the species is not always detected with certainty. Today, many monitoring programmes target multiple species, or life stages within a species, requiring the use of multiple detection methods. When multiple...
Authors
James D. Nichols, Larissa L. Bailey, Allan F. O’Connell, Neil W. Talancy, Evan H. Campbell Grant, Andrew T. Gilbert, Elizabeth M. Annand, Thomas P. Husband, James E. Hines
Population dynamics of the Concho water snake in rivers and reservoirs Population dynamics of the Concho water snake in rivers and reservoirs
The Concho Water Snake (Nerodia harteri paucimaculata) is confined to the Concho–Colorado River valley of central Texas, thereby occupying one of the smallest geographic ranges of any North American snake. In 1986, N. h. paucimaculata was designated as a federally threatened species, in large part because of reservoir projects that were perceived to adversely affect the amount of habitat...
Authors
M.J. Whiting, J.R. Dixon, B.D. Greene, J.M. Mueller, O.W. Thornton, Jeff S. Hatfield, J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines
North American Bird Banding and quantitative population ecology North American Bird Banding and quantitative population ecology
Early bird-banding programs in North America were developed to provide descriptions of bird migration and movement patterns. This initial interest in description quickly evolved into more quantitative interests in two ways. There was (1) interest in quantifying migration and movement patterns, and (2) rapid recognition that re-observations of marked birds provided information about other
Authors
J.D. Nichols, J. Tautin
Juvenile survival in a tropical population of roseate terns: Interannual variation and effect of tick parasitism Juvenile survival in a tropical population of roseate terns: Interannual variation and effect of tick parasitism
Many demographic studies on long-lived seabirds have focused on the estimation of adult survival, but much less is known about survival during the early years of life, especially in tropical species. We report analyses of a capture–recapture dataset of 685 roseate terns ringed as fledglings and adults between 1998 and 2005 on Aride Island, Seychelles, and recaptured/resighted at the same...
Authors
David Monticelli, Jaime A. Ramos, James E. Hines, James D. Nichols, Jeffrey A. Spendelow
A large-scale deforestation experiment: Effects of patch area and isolation on Amazon birds A large-scale deforestation experiment: Effects of patch area and isolation on Amazon birds
As compared with extensive contiguous areas, small isolated habitat patches lack many species. Some species disappear after isolation; others are rarely found in any small patch, regardless of isolation. We used a 13-year data set of bird captures from a large landscape-manipulation experiment in a Brazilian Amazon forest to model the extinction-colonization dynamics of 55 species and...
Authors
G. Ferraz, J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines, P.C. Stouffer, R.O. Bierregaard, T.E. Lovejoy
Sampling design trade-offs in occupancy studies with imperfect detection: Examples and software Sampling design trade-offs in occupancy studies with imperfect detection: Examples and software
Researchers have used occupancy, or probability of occupancy, as a response or state variable in a variety of studies (e.g., habitat modeling), and occupancy is increasingly favored by numerous state, federal, and international agencies engaged in monitoring programs. Recent advances in estimation methods have emphasized that reliable inferences can be made from these types of studies if
Authors
L.L. Bailey, J.E. Hines, J.D. Nichols, Darryl I. MacKenzie
Adaptive harvest management of North American waterfowl populations: a brief history and future prospects Adaptive harvest management of North American waterfowl populations: a brief history and future prospects
Since 1995, the US Fish and Wildlife Service has used an adaptive approach to the management of sport harvest of mid-continent Mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) in North America. This approach differs from many current approaches to conservation and management in requiring close collaboration between managers and scientists. Key elements of this process are objectives, alternative...
Authors
J.D. Nichols, M.C. Runge, Fred A. Johnson, B. Kenneth Williams
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 417
Habitat-specific breeder survival of Florida Scrub-Jays: Inferences from multistate models Habitat-specific breeder survival of Florida Scrub-Jays: Inferences from multistate models
Quantifying habitat-specific survival and changes in habitat quality within disturbance-prone habitats is critical for understanding population dynamics and variation in fitness, and for managing degraded ecosystems. We used 18 years of color-banding data and multistate capture-recapture models to test whether habitat quality within territories influences survival and detection...
Authors
D.R. Breininger, J.D. Nichols, G.M. Carter, D.M. Oddy
Patterns and determinants of mammal species occurrence in India Patterns and determinants of mammal species occurrence in India
Many Indian mammals face range contraction and extinction, but assessments of their population status are hindered by the lack of reliable distribution data and range maps. 2. We estimated the current geographical ranges of 20 species of large mammals by applying occupancy models to data from country-wide expert. We modelled species in relation to ecological and social covariates...
Authors
K.K. Karanth, J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines, K. U. Karanth, N.L. Christensen
Modeling co-occurrence of northern spotted and barred owls: accounting for detection probability differences Modeling co-occurrence of northern spotted and barred owls: accounting for detection probability differences
Barred owls (Strix varia) have recently expanded their range and now encompass the entire range of the northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina). This expansion has led to two important issues of concern for management of northern spotted owls: (1) possible competitive interactions between the two species that could contribute to population declines of northern spotted owls, and...
Authors
Larissa L. Bailey, Janice A. Reid, Eric D. Forsman, James D. Nichols
An inventory of terrestrial mammals at national parks in the Northeast Temperate Network and Sagamore Hill National Historic Site An inventory of terrestrial mammals at national parks in the Northeast Temperate Network and Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
An inventory of mammals was conducted during 2004 at nine national park sites in the Northeast Temperate Network (NETN): Acadia National Park (NP), Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park (NHP), Minute Man NHP, Morristown NHP, Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Site (NHS), Saint-Gaudens NHS, Saugus Iron Works NHS, Saratoga NHP, and Weir Farm NHS. Sagamore Hill NHS, part...
Authors
Andrew T. Gilbert, Allan F. O’Connell, Elizabeth M. Annand, Neil W. Talancy, John R. Sauer, James D. Nichols
Temporal variation in adult survival rates of Roseate Terns during periods of increasing and declining populations Temporal variation in adult survival rates of Roseate Terns during periods of increasing and declining populations
We used 19 years of mark-recapture/resighting data collected on 11, 020 birds from 1988-2006 at five colony sites in Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut, USA, to examine temporal variation in the survival rates of adult Roseate Terns (Sterna dougallii) during periods of overall population increase (1988-2000) and decline (2000-2006). Roseate Terns nested at only one colony site in...
Authors
J. A. Spendelow, J.E. Hines, J.D. Nichols, I.C.T. Nisbet, G. Cormons, H. Hays, J.J. Hatch, C.S. Mostello
Multi-scale occupancy estimation and modelling using multiple detection methods Multi-scale occupancy estimation and modelling using multiple detection methods
Occupancy estimation and modelling based on detection–nondetection data provide an effective way of exploring change in a species’ distribution across time and space in cases where the species is not always detected with certainty. Today, many monitoring programmes target multiple species, or life stages within a species, requiring the use of multiple detection methods. When multiple...
Authors
James D. Nichols, Larissa L. Bailey, Allan F. O’Connell, Neil W. Talancy, Evan H. Campbell Grant, Andrew T. Gilbert, Elizabeth M. Annand, Thomas P. Husband, James E. Hines
Population dynamics of the Concho water snake in rivers and reservoirs Population dynamics of the Concho water snake in rivers and reservoirs
The Concho Water Snake (Nerodia harteri paucimaculata) is confined to the Concho–Colorado River valley of central Texas, thereby occupying one of the smallest geographic ranges of any North American snake. In 1986, N. h. paucimaculata was designated as a federally threatened species, in large part because of reservoir projects that were perceived to adversely affect the amount of habitat...
Authors
M.J. Whiting, J.R. Dixon, B.D. Greene, J.M. Mueller, O.W. Thornton, Jeff S. Hatfield, J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines
North American Bird Banding and quantitative population ecology North American Bird Banding and quantitative population ecology
Early bird-banding programs in North America were developed to provide descriptions of bird migration and movement patterns. This initial interest in description quickly evolved into more quantitative interests in two ways. There was (1) interest in quantifying migration and movement patterns, and (2) rapid recognition that re-observations of marked birds provided information about other
Authors
J.D. Nichols, J. Tautin
Juvenile survival in a tropical population of roseate terns: Interannual variation and effect of tick parasitism Juvenile survival in a tropical population of roseate terns: Interannual variation and effect of tick parasitism
Many demographic studies on long-lived seabirds have focused on the estimation of adult survival, but much less is known about survival during the early years of life, especially in tropical species. We report analyses of a capture–recapture dataset of 685 roseate terns ringed as fledglings and adults between 1998 and 2005 on Aride Island, Seychelles, and recaptured/resighted at the same...
Authors
David Monticelli, Jaime A. Ramos, James E. Hines, James D. Nichols, Jeffrey A. Spendelow
A large-scale deforestation experiment: Effects of patch area and isolation on Amazon birds A large-scale deforestation experiment: Effects of patch area and isolation on Amazon birds
As compared with extensive contiguous areas, small isolated habitat patches lack many species. Some species disappear after isolation; others are rarely found in any small patch, regardless of isolation. We used a 13-year data set of bird captures from a large landscape-manipulation experiment in a Brazilian Amazon forest to model the extinction-colonization dynamics of 55 species and...
Authors
G. Ferraz, J.D. Nichols, J.E. Hines, P.C. Stouffer, R.O. Bierregaard, T.E. Lovejoy
Sampling design trade-offs in occupancy studies with imperfect detection: Examples and software Sampling design trade-offs in occupancy studies with imperfect detection: Examples and software
Researchers have used occupancy, or probability of occupancy, as a response or state variable in a variety of studies (e.g., habitat modeling), and occupancy is increasingly favored by numerous state, federal, and international agencies engaged in monitoring programs. Recent advances in estimation methods have emphasized that reliable inferences can be made from these types of studies if
Authors
L.L. Bailey, J.E. Hines, J.D. Nichols, Darryl I. MacKenzie
Adaptive harvest management of North American waterfowl populations: a brief history and future prospects Adaptive harvest management of North American waterfowl populations: a brief history and future prospects
Since 1995, the US Fish and Wildlife Service has used an adaptive approach to the management of sport harvest of mid-continent Mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) in North America. This approach differs from many current approaches to conservation and management in requiring close collaboration between managers and scientists. Key elements of this process are objectives, alternative...
Authors
J.D. Nichols, M.C. Runge, Fred A. Johnson, B. Kenneth Williams