Dr. Vilis O. Nams

          Professor – Ecology

 

 

My teaching expertise is in the areas of Ecology, Ecological Methods, and Conservation Biology.

I am involved in the following research projects:

Publications:

Kearns, W.D., Nams, V.O., and Fozard, J.L. (in press). Wireless fractal estimation of tortuosity in movement paths related to cognitive impairment in assisted living facility residents. Methods of Information in Medicine. Abstract.

Delgado, M.D., Penteriani, V., Revilla, E. and Nams, V.O. (2010) The effect of phenotypic traits and external cues on natal dispersal movements. Journal of Animal Ecology.  Abstract. Complete paper, pdf.

Delgado, M.D., Penteriani, V., Nams, V.O. and Campioni, L. (2009). Changes of movement patterns from early dispersal to settlement. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 64:35-43.  Abstract. Complete paper, pdf.

Nams, V.O. (submitted). Effects of discretizing correlated random walks. Abstract. Complete paper, pdf.

Delgado, M.D., Penteriani, V., and Nams, V. O. (2009).  How fledglings explore surroundings from fledging to dispersal. A case study with Eagle Owls Bubo bubo. Ardea. 97 (1): 7-15 Abstract. Complete paper, pdf.

Nams, V. O., and R. J. Martin (2007). The effects of turnout date on cattle weight gain. Can. J. Animal Science 87:527-534. Abstract. Complete paper, pdf (123K)

Caldwell, I., and Nams, V. O (2006). A compass without a map: Tortuosity and orientation of eastern painted turtles (Chrysemys picta picta) released in unfamiliar territory. Canadian Journal of Zoology 84(8): 1129–1137 Abstract. Complete paper, pdf (81K)

Eaton, L. J. and V. O. Nams (2006). Second cropping of wild blueberries - effects of management practices. Canadian Journal of Plant Science. 86:1189-1195 Abstract. Complete paper, pdf (120K)

Nams, V. O. (2006) Detecting oriented movement of animals. Animal Behaviour. 72: 1197-1203 Abstract.  Complete paper, pdf (122K)

Nams, V. O. (2006). Improving accuracy and precision in estimating fractal dimension of animal movement paths. Abstract. Complete paper, pdf (300K) Acta Biotheoretica 54:1-11.

Nams, V. O. (2006). Animal movement rates as behavioural bouts. J. Animal Ecology 75:298-302. Complete paper, pdf (284K)

Nams, V. O, G. Mowat, and M. A. Panian (2006) Scale dependent habitat selection by grizzly bears. Biological Conservation 128:109-119. Abstract. Complete paper, pdf (230K)

Nams, V. O (2005). Using animal movement paths to measure response to spatial scale. Oecologia 143:179-188. Abstract. Complete paper, pdf (380K)

Nams, V.O. and M. Bourgeois (2004). Using fractal analysis to measure habitat use at different spatial scales: an example with marten. Can J. Zool. 82:1738-1747. Abstract.  Complete paper, pdf (300K)

Nams, V. O. and E. A. Gillis (2003). Changes in responses of small mammals to tracking tubes with time. J. Mammalogy 84:1374-1380. Abstract.  Complete paper, pdf (2.6Mb)

Krebs, C. J., R. Boonstra, V. O. Nams, M. O’Donoghue, K. E. Hodges and S. Boutin. (2001) Estimation of snowshoe hare population density from turd transects – a further evaluation. Canadian Journal of Zoology 79:1-4. Complete paper, pdf (113 kb)

Turkington, R., E. John, C.J. Krebs, M.R.T. Dale, V.O. Nams, R. Boonstra, S. Boutin, K. Martin, A.R.E Sinclair, J.N.M. Smith (1998). The effects of NPK fertilization for nine years on boreal forest vegetation in northwestern Canada. Journal of Vegetation Science 9:333-346.

Gillis, E.A., and V.O. Nams. (1998) How red-backed voles (Clethrionomys gapperi pallescens) find habitats. Canadian J. Zoology 76:791-794. Abstract.  Complete paper, pdf (70K)

Nams, V.O. J.A. Antos and G.A. Allen. (1998) Seedling Establishment in a Patchy Environment. Ecoscience 5(1):86-94. Abstract. Complete paper, pdf (7.5 Mb)

Nams, V.O. (1997) Density-dependent predation by skunks using olfactory search images. Oecologia 110:440-448. Abstract.  Complete paper, pdf (460 K)

Nams, V.O. (1996) The VFractal: a new estimator for fractal dimension of animal movement paths. Landscape Ecology 11:289-297. Abstract.  Complete paper, pdf (200K)

Nams, V.O., N.F.G. Folkard and J.N.M. Smith (1996). Nitrogen fertilization stimulates herbivory by snowshoe hares in the boreal forest. Can. J. Zool. Abstract.

Boutin,S., C.K. Krebs, R. Boonstra, M.R.T. Dale, S.J. Hannon, K. Martin, A.R.E. Sinclair, J.N.M. Smith, R. Turkington, M. Blower, A. Byrom, F.I. Doyle, C. Doyle, D. Hik, L. Hofer, A. Hubbs, T. Karels, D.L. Murray, V.O. Nams, M. O Donaghue, C. Rohner, S. Schweiger. (1995). Population changes of the vertebrate community during a snowshoe hare cycle in Canada s boreal forest. Oikos 74:69-80. Abstract.

Murray, D.L., S. Boutin, M. O'Donnoghue, V.O. Nams(1995) Hunting behaviour of sympatric felids and canids in relation to vegetative cover. Animal Behaviour 50:1203-1210. Abstract.

Nams, V.O. (1994). Increasing sampling efficiency of lowbush blueberries. Can. J. Plant Science. 74:573-576. Abstract.

Nams, V.O., N.F.G. Folkard and J.N.M. Smith (1993). Effects of nitrogen fertilization on several woody and non-woody boreal forest species. Can. J. Bot. 71:93-97. Abstract. Complete Paper, pdf (3.3 Mb)

Nams, V.O. 1993. Plane-mirror inversion. The European Journal of Physics.  14:44. Complete Paper, pdf (100 kb)

Nams, V.O. 1991. Olfactory search images in striped skunks. Behaviour 119:267-284. Abstract. Complete Paper, pdf (5.2 Mb)

Nams, V.O. and S.A. Boutin. 1991. What is wrong with error polygons? J. Wildl. Manage. 55: 172-176. Complete Paper, pdf (3.3 Mb)

Nams, V.O. 1989. A technique to determine the behaviour of radio-tagged animal. Can. J. Zoology 67: 254-258. Complete paper, pdf (3.8Mb)

Nams, V.O. 1984. Prey selection mechanisms of vessels. Bull. Ecol. Soc. Am. 65: 97-98. Complete paper, pdf (8.1 Mb)

Nams, V.O. 1989. Effects of radiotelemetry error on sample size and bias when testing for habitat selection. Can. J. Zoology 67: 1631-1636. Abstract. Complete paper, pdf (5.8 Mb)

email: vnams@nsac.ca

mailing address: Dr. Vilis O. Nams, Dept Env Sciences, NSAC, Box 550, Truro, NS B2N 5E3, Canada

 

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Last updated March 2010