Daniel James NicholsonThe University of Texas at Arlington | UTA · Department of Biology
Daniel James Nicholson
Doctor of Philosophy
About
15
Publications
11,305
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112
Citations
Introduction
I am a tropical ecologist, evolutionary ecologist, and conservation scientist. Currently, I am a Postdoc with Luke Frishkoff at UTA investigating the community dynamics of Caribbean Anoles.
Additional affiliations
July 2014 - August 2014
October 2015 - July 2016
Zoological Society of London
Position
- Project Manager
July 2015 - August 2015
British Exploration Society
Position
- Science Leader
Education
September 2016 - June 2021
September 2012 - October 2013
September 2009 - June 2012
Publications
Publications (15)
Understanding the factors that facilitate or constrain establishment of populations in novel environments is crucial for conservation biology and the study of adaptive radiation. Important questions include: (1) Does the timing of colonization relative to stochastic events, such as climatic perturbations, impact the probability of successful establ...
Given that sexual signals are often expressed more highly in one sex than the other, they can impose a sex-specific cost of reproduction through parasitism. The two primary paradigms regarding the relationship of parasites to sexual signals are the good genes hypothesis and the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis; however, there are other ecologic...
The cultural significance of a species can play an important role in garnering local support for conservation. In this study, the Critically Endangered Mountain Chicken Frog (Leptodactylus fallax) on Dominica is used as a case study to understand whether a species' cultural association affects local opinion towards its use and conservation. The spe...
This study compared the life histories of Hemidactylus frenatus, a significant invasive gecko, and Phyllodactylus palmeus, a Honduran endemic, over 10 wk, June–August 2013 at 12 study sites on the Honduran island of Cayo Menor of the Cayo Cochinos archipelago where H. frenatus arrived in 2008. Three different life-history traits related to invasion...
Predators with diverse diets can use generalized feeding behavior to consume different prey types or can alter behavior based upon the functional demands of each prey type. Prey choice and feeding behavior are especially important for limbless, gape‐limited predators, such as snakes, because the head must capture, subdue, and ingest prey. Although...
Tropical ectotherms are thought to be especially vulnerable to climate change because they have evolved in temporally stable thermal environments and therefore have decreased tolerance for thermal variability. Thus, they are expected to have narrow thermal tolerance ranges, live close to their upper thermal tolerance limits, and have decreased ther...
The slender anole, Anolis apletophallus, is a small arboreal lizard of the rainforest understory of central and eastern Panama. This species has been the subject of numerous ecological and evolutionary studies over the past 60 years as a result of attributes that make it especially amenable to field and laboratory science. Slender anoles are highly...
Islands are hotspots of endemism and often function as engines of adaptive radiation. Nevertheless, we lack a deep understanding of the processes that generate phenotypic divergence when populations first colonise islands. Important questions include: (1) Do populations experience shifts in habitat use and behaviour with reduced competition and pre...
As rising temperatures threaten biodiversity across the globe, tropical ectotherms are thought to be particularly vulnerable due to their narrow thermal tolerance ranges. Nevertheless, physiology-based models highlighting the vulnerability of tropical organisms rarely consider the contributions of their gut microbiota, even though microbiomes influ...
Synopsis
Sexual size dimorphism is widespread in nature and often develops through sexual divergence in growth trajectories. In vertebrates, the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor (GH/IGF) network is an important regulator of growth, and components of this network are often regulated in sex-specific fashion during the development of sexual s...
Tropical ectotherms are thought to be especially vulnerable to climate change because they are thermal specialists, having evolved in aseasonal thermal environments. However, even within the tropics, habitat structure can influence opportunities for behavioral thermoregulation. Open (and edge) habitats likely promote more effective thermoregulation...
If fitness optima for a given trait differ between males and females in a population, sexual dimorphism may evolve. Sex-biased trait variation may affect patterns of habitat use, and if the microhabitats used by each sex have dissimilar microclimates, this can drive sex-specific selection on thermal physiology. Nevertheless, tests of differences be...
Introduced species can become invasive, damaging ecosystems and disrupting economies through explosive population growth. One mechanism underlying population expansion in invasive populations is 'enemy release', whereby the invader experiences relaxation of agonistic interactions with other species, including parasites. However, direct observationa...
Amphibian populations are in global decline. Conservation breeding programs (CBPs) are a tool used to prevent species extinctions. Ideally, to meet biosecurity, husbandry and other requirements, CBPs should be conducted within the species' geographic range. A particular issue with in-country amphibian CBPs is that of live food supply. In many areas...
This expedition was the final expedition, of a set of three planned annual British Exploring Society expeditions to Namibia, in Damaraland in Northern Namibia. On this expedition the Young Explorers spent time in the Ugab River region and also undertook a 70 km expedition, by foot, to the Skeleton Coast. The Young Explorers came for either five wee...
Questions
Questions (6)
Islands were surveyed weekly, each week new individuals were caught, marked and then released. Most mark recap models I have looked at seem to deal with studies with one large release followed by numerous recapture events. How do I compensate for the fact that with our study recaptures and the release of new individuals happened simultaneously? Need to calculate the survival probability for each individual.
Approx 10cm in length. Desperate to ID down as much as possible. Skull was found as is and appeared undamaged. On a beach, on the central east coast of Brazil.
Many Thanks!
Dan
Looking to ID this Amphiacusta sp, if possible. Found in very high numbers on Dominica: West Indies. Any help would be fantastic.
I currently work at a captive breeding facility in Dominica W.I. To captive breed Mountain Chicken Frogs (Leptodactylus fallax). We have several live food culture species that we need the ID for and my invertebrate taxonomy is poor, at best.
A cockroach in the Blaberus genus
A species of Darkling Beetle
A Slug species thought to be in the Veronicella or Vaginulus genus
A snail species thought to be in the Austroselenites genus
A millipede species
All species were found in the wild on Dominica, but we do not know if they are native or introduced.
If we can get down to species level that would be great.
Many Thanks!
I am part of a expedition to Amazonian Peru in the summer this year (Manu National Park). There will be approximately 100 people and a lot of moving around. I am unaware of the exact status of Chytrid in this area but I am very keen to reduce any risk of contamination, but also at the same time being as non-detrimental to the ecosystem as possible.
What would be the best method to employ? I am thinking chemical baths for boots after and before exposure to fresh water environments. But then a chemical which is Eco-friendly/biodegradable is needed.
This animal was found in the Namib Desert, in August 2014. A loose section of rock was broken away, with this creature underneath. Creature was observed to move by two individuals (myself included).
Any ideas where this creature might fit?
Order, Family, Genus etc?
