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Ian Nichols

Postdoctoral Associate
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Contact:

iancn@vt.edu
(540) 541-1540

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As a wildlife photographer who transitioned into ecological research, Ian Nichols focuses on wildlife research with applications in managed environments. His experiences working in Central Africa led him to the goal of improving agricultural practices to protect wildlife and human well-being. Utilizing trail camera and acoustic monitoring technology, he hopes to connect people to the sights and sounds of nature through the research and produce thoughtful and meaningful paths forward for wildlife and society.

Education

  • Ph.D. Biology, Drexel University - 2024
  • Minor in STEM Education, Drexel University - 2018
  • B.A., Government, University of Virginia - 2005

  • Undergraduate Research Experience: Wildlife Research on Working Lands
  • Guest Lecturer: Biodiversity and Agroforestry
  • Co-Chair Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Working Group, Agroforestry Coalition

  • Best management practices for grassland bird species
  • Role of agroforestry systems in promoting wildlife diversity in farm landscapes
  • Advancing soil health monitoring with acoustic monitoring

  • Nichols, I.C., Kentachime, F., Dadjo, A., Andres-Bray, T.C., Abwe, E., Morgan, B., Gonder, M.K.  A camera-trap survey of the mammal community in the ecotone habitat of Mbam and Djerem National Park, Cameroon. In review. African Journal of Ecology, 2025.
  • Andres-Bray, T.C., Nichols, I.C., Hafner, M, Jordan, A., Wilke, T., Eysseric, A., Borzym, V., Abwe, E., Bethan, M., Gonder, M.K. Cultural Patterns of Technical Variation in Chimpanzee Termite Fishing Behavior in Mbam & Djerem National Park, Cameroon. American Journal of Primatology, 87(3), e70014. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.70014
  • Andres-Bray, T.C., Smith, J., Nichols, I.C., Abwe, E., Gonder, M.K. Ecological correlates of chimpanzee termite fishing behavior in Mbam & Djerem National Park, Cameroon. Ecology and Evolution, 14(7), e70080. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70080
  • Aspbury, A.S, Grayson, K.L., Fantaye, S., Nichols, I.C., Myers-Burton, M., Ortiz-Mangual, X., Gabor, C.R. The Association between male-biased sex ratio and indicators of stress in red-spotted newts. Physiology & Behavior, 173: 156-162.