Patrick Nichols, Dr.

Post-doctoral Researcher

patrick.nichols@oulu.fi

ORCID iD Web of Science Google Scholar ResearchGate Bluesky Website

My research advances applied conservation through an exploration of ecosystem biodiversity. Using cutting-edge environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques, I address key questions to better understand the structure, function, and trajectories of habitats impacted by human disturbances.

Keywords

Biodiversity Monitoring
Cryptofauna
Invasive Species
Simplifying Methods
eDNA

Current Projects

NORTHDIVeRSITY
NORTHDIVeRSITY
eDNA and Remote Sensing-based Biodiversity Monitoring
eDNA and Remote Sensing-based Biodiversity Monitoring
eDNA for Diversity and Nature Awareness
eDNA for Diversity and Nature Awareness

Funding

About me

Patrick received his Ph.D. from the Zoology Graduate Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. His research focuses on developing environmental DNA (eDNA) detection techniques for bio-surveillance and applied conservation. Over the past decade, he has worked to advance molecular testing methods that improve how researchers and conservationists track ecological changes and address emerging threats to fragile ecosystems. His work emphasizes validating eDNA-based approaches while assessing the risks and uncertainties associated with molecular detection tools. Passionate about applying cutting-edge science to real-world conservation, he collaborates with local non-profits and stakeholders to integrate molecular data into existing management strategies.

Publications

In the works…

  • Nichols, P., & Marko, P. (in review). Spatial complexity and rare-taxon turnover structures coral reef eDNA communities. Molecular Ecology

  • Pandey, S., Nichols, P., Schmidt, A., Macher, T., Braig, F., Mutanen, M., Moradmand, M., & Prost, S. (in review). Sequencing platform and clustering algorithm choice shape environmental DNA-based biodiversity monitoring outcomes. Environmental DNA

2026

  • Nichols, P., Fumo, J., Lopes Jr., K., Ely, T., Nash, E., Timmers, M., Sherwood, A., & Marko, P. (2026). When cryptogenic species are also cryptic: reframing biogeographic uncertainty in the environmental DNA era. Biology Letters. 22:20250647. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2025.0647

2025

  • Nichols, P., Sherwood, A., Fraiola, K., Hauk, B., Counsell, C., Ely, T., & Marko, P. (2025). Detecting a non-indigenous marine macroalga (Acanthophora spicifera) with environmental DNA from surface seawater. Aquaculture, Fish, and Fisheries 5, no. 6: e70135. https://doi.org/10.1002/aff2.70135

  • Nichols, P., & Marko, P. (2025). No pump, no problem: evaluating passive eDNA sampling for marine biomonitoring of a nuisance macroalga. PeerJ, 13:e19939. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19939

  • Nichols, P., Vimond, C., & Marko, P. (2025). Simple passive environmental DNA samplers for marine biomonitoring in resource-limited programs. Current Protocols, 5, e70186. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cpz1.70186

  • Fumo, J., Nichols, P., Ely, T., Marko, P., Moran, A., Powell, B., Williams, T., Kosaki, R., Smith, C., Lopes, K. Jr., Smith, J., Spalding, H., Krueger-Hadfield, S., McDermid, K., Hauk, B., Morioka, J., O’Brien, K., Kennedy, B., Leliaert, F., Fujii, M., Nelson, W., Draisma, S., & Sherwood, A. (2025). A predictive framework for identifying source populations of non-native marine macroalgae: Chondria tumulosa in the Pacific Ocean. PeerJ, 13:e19610. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19610

  • Nichols, P., Fraiola, K., Sherwood, A., Hauk, B., Lopes, K. Jr., Davis, C., Fumo, J., Counsell, C., Williams, T., Spalding, H., & Marko, P. (2025). Navigating uncertainty in environmental DNA detection of a nuisance marine macroalga. PLoS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0318414

2022

  • Nichols, P., Timmers, M., & Marko, P. (2022). Hide ‘n seq: Direct versus indirect metabarcoding of coral reef cryptic communities. Environmental DNA, 4: 93-107. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/edn3.203

2019

  • Nichols, P., & Marko, P. (2019). Rapid assessment of coral cover from environmental DNA in Hawai’i. Environmental DNA, 00:1-14. https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.8

2015

  • Jud, Z., Nichols, P., & Layman, C. (2015). Broad salinity tolerance in the invasive lionfish Pterois spp. may facilitate estuarine colonization. Environmental Biology of Fishes 98 (1), 135-143. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-014-0242-y

2014

  • Layman, C., Jud, Z., & Nichols, P. (2014) Lionfish alter benthic invertebrate assemblages in patch habitats of a subtropical estuary. Marine Biology 161 (9), 2179-2182. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-014-2491-x

Presentations & Outreach

Presentation: Nichols P., Prost S., et al. (2026). Democratizing environmental DNA: simple, scalable tools for monitoring critical habitats. Session: Capacity Building in Monitoring. BioMonWeek 2026, Montpellier, France. 4-8 May 2026.

Citizen Science Festival: Nichols P., Prost S. (2026). Restoration and environmental DNA monitoring of Finnish Rivers. Table at Valkea Shopping Center, Oulu, Finland. Citizen Science Festival, 6th of March, 2026.
(KALEVA article about the Citizen Science Festival, Finnish)

Presentation: Nichols, P. (2025). From data to depth: building connections in remote coral reef conservation. Session: Ecosystem Restoration Storytelling Slam: Transdisciplinarity in Performance. YHYS Fall Colloquium 2025, Oulu, Finland. 24th of October 2025.