Currently at:
Hungarian Dept. of Biology and Ecology, Babes-Bolyai University,
Clinicilor street 5–7, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
E-mail1: csvagasi#at#gmail.com
E-mail2: csongor.vagasi#at#vocs.unideb.hu
#at# = @

Study organisms: free-living birds

Approaches: field observation and experiment, lab experiment, phylogenetic comparison

Topics:

(1) life history–physiology nexus

- life-history traits: growth, reproduction, survival and lifespan, as well as costly phenotypic traits that are linked to fitness (e.g. brain size)

- physiology: oxidative stress, immunity and insulin-like growth factor 1, as well as parasite infestation (e.g. coccidiosis)

(2) physiology of animal personalities

(3) plumage, moult, wing morphology and flight

- plumage: feather quality, feather structure and colouration

- wing morphology: wing loading, aspect ratio

Vincze O, Vágási CI, Pénzes J, Szabó K, Magonyi NM, Czirják GÁ and Pap PL 2022. Sexual dimorphism in immune function and oxidative physiology across birds: the role of sexual selection. Ecology Letters 25: 958–970.

Vágási CI, Fülöp A, Osváth G, Pap PL, Pénzes J, Benkő Z, Lendvai ÁZ and Barta Z 2021. Social groups with diverse personalities mitigate physiological stress in a songbird. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 288: 20203092.

Vágási CI, Vincze O, Lemaître JF, Pap PL, Ronget V and Gaillard JM 2021. Is degree of sociality associated with reproductive senescence? A comparative analysis across birds and mammals. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B 376: 20190744.

Vágási CI, Tóth Z, Pénzes J, Pap PL, Ouyang JQ and Lendvai ÁZ 2020. The Relationship between Hormones, Glucose and Oxidative Damage is Condition- and Stress-dependent in a Free-living Passerine Bird. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 93: 466–476.

Pap P, Fülöp A, Adamkova M, Cepak J, Michalkova R, Saffran RJ, Stermin AN, Tomasek O, Vágási CI, Vincze O, Wilins MR and Albtrecht T 2019. Selection on multiple sexual signals in two Central- and Eastern-European populations of the barn swallow. Ecology and Evolution 9: 11277–11287.

Vincze O, Vágási CI, Pap PL, Palmer C and Møller AP 2019. Wing morphology, flight type and migration distance predict accumulated fuel load in birds. Journal of Experimental Biology 222: jeb183517.

Pap PL, Vincze O, Vágási CI, Salamon Z, Pándi A, Bálint B, Nord A, Nudds RL and Osváth G 2019. Vane macrostructure of primary feathers and its adaptations to flight in birds. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 126: 256–267.

Vágási CI, Vincze O, Pătraș L, Osváth G, Pénzes J, Haussmann MF, Barta Z and Pap PL 2019. Longevity and life history coevolve with oxidative stress in birds. Functional Ecology 33: 152–161.

Vágási CI, Pătraș L, Pap PL, Vincze O, Mureșan C, Németh J and Lendvai ÁZ 2018. Experimental increase in baseline corticosterone level reduces oxidative damage and enhances innate immune response. PLoS One 13: e0192701.

Pap PL, Vincze O, Fülöp A, Székely-Béres O, Pătraș L, Pénzes J and Vágási CI 2018. Oxidative physiology of reproduction in a passerine bird: a field experiment. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology 72: 18.

Osváth G, Daubner T, Dyke GJ, Fuisz TI, Nord A, Pénzes J, Vargancsik D, Vágási CI, Vincze O and Pap PL 2018. How feathered are birds? Environment predicts both the mass and density of body feathers. Functional Ecology 32: 701–712.

Fülöp A, Vágási CI and Pap PL 2017. Cohabitation with farm animals rather than breeding effort increases the infection with feather-associated bacteria in the barn swallow Hirundo rustica. Journal of Avian Biology 48: 1005–1014.

Pap PL, Vincze O, Wekerle B, Daubner T, Vágási CI, Nudds RL, Dyke GJ and Osváth G 2017. A phylogenetic comparative analysis reveals correlations between body feather structure and habitat. Functional Ecology 31: 1241–1251.

Geue JC, Vágási CI, Schweizer M, Pap PL and Thomassen HA 2016. Environmental selection is a main driver of divergence in house sparrows (Passer domesticus) in Romania and Bulgaria. Ecology and Evolution 6: 7954–7964.

Vágási CI, Vincze O, Pătraș L, Osváth G, Marton A, Bărbos L, Sol D and Pap PL 2016. Large-brained birds suffer less oxidative damage. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 29: 1968–1976.

Fülöp A, Czirják GÁ, Pap PL and Vágási CI 2016. Feather-degrading bacteria, uropygial gland and feather quality in House Sparrows Passer domesticus. Ibis 158: 362–370.

Vágási CI, Pap PL, Vincze O, Osváth G, Erritzøe J and Møller AP 2016. Morphological adaptations to migration in birds. Evolutionary Biology 43: 48–59.

Paștiu AI, Pap PL, Vágási CI, Niculae M, Páll E, Brudașcă FG and Spînu M 2016. Wild birds in Romania are more exposed to West Nile virus than to Newcastle Disease virus. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases 16: 176–180.

Vincze O, Vágási CI, Pap PL, Osváth G and Møller AP 2015. Brain regions associated with visual cues are important for bird migration. Biology Letters 11: 20150678.

Pap PL, Osváth G, Aparicio JM, Bărbos L, Matyjasiak P, Rubolini D, Saino N, Vágási CI, Vincze O and Møller AP 2015. Sexual dimorphism and population differences in structural properties of barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) wing and tail feathers. PLoS ONE 10: e0130844.

Fenesi A, Vágási CI, Beldean M, Földesi R, Kolcsár L-P, Shapiro JT, Török E and Kovács-Hostyánszki A 2015. Solidago canadensis impacts on native plant and pollinator communities in different-aged old fields. Basic and Applied Ecology 16: 335–346.

Pap PL, Pătraș L, Osváth G, Buehler DM, Versteegh MA, Sesarman A, Banciu M and Vágási CI 2015. Seasonal patterns and relationships among coccidian infestations, measures of oxidative physiology, and immune function in free-living house sparrows over an annual cycle. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 88: 395–405.

Pap PL, Osváth G, Sándor K, Vincze O, Bărbos L, Marton A, Nudds RL and Vágási CI 2015. Interspecific variation in the structural properties of flight feathers in birds indicates adaptation to flight requirements and habitat. Functional Ecology 29: 746–757. Spotlighted paper in the 29(6) issue of Functional Ecology.

Pap PL, Vágási CI, Vincze O, Osváth G, Veres-Szászka J and Czirják GÁ 2015. Physiological pace of life: the link between constitutive immunity, developmental period, and metabolic rate in European birds. Oecologia 177: 147–158.

Diaz-Real J, Serrano D, Pérez-Tris J, Fernández-González S, Bermejo A, Calleja JA, De la Puente J, De Palacio D, Martínez JL, Moreno-Opo R, Ponce C, Frías Ó, Tella JL, Møller AP, Figuerola J, Pap PL, Kovács I, Vágási CI, Meléndez L, Blanco G, Aguilera E, Senar JC, Galván I, Atiénzar F, Barba E, Cantó JL, Cortés V, Monrós JS, Piculo R, Vögeli M, Borràs A, Navarro C, Mestre A and Jovani R 2014. Repeatability of feather mite prevalence and intensity in passerine birds. PLoS ONE 9: e107341.

Pap PL, Sesarman A, Vágási CI, Buehler DM, Pătraș L, Versteegh MA and Banciu M 2014. No Evidence for Parasitism-linked Changes in Immune Function or Oxidative Physiology over the Annual Cycle of an Avian Species. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 87: 729–739.

Vágási CI 2014. The origin of feather holes: a word of caution. Journal of Avian Biology 45: 431–436.

Bókony V, Lendvai ÁZ, Vágási CI, Pătraș L, Pap PL, Németh J, Vincze E, Papp S, Preiszner B, Seress G and Liker A. 2014. Necessity or capacity? Physiological state predicts problem-solving performance in house sparrows. Behavioral Ecology 25: 124–135.

Vincze O, Vágási CI, Kovács I, Galván I and Pap PL 2013. Sources of variation in uropygial gland size in European birds. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 110: 543–563.

Møller AP, Vágási CI and Pap PL 2013. Risk-taking and the evolution of mechanisms for rapid escape from predators. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 26: 1143–1150.

Czirják GÁ, Pap PL, Vágási CI, Giraudeau M, Mureşan C, Mirleau P and Heeb P 2013. Preen gland removal increases plumage bacterial load but not that of feather-degrading bacteria. Naturwissenschaften 100: 145–151.

Pap PL, Vágási CI, Bărbos L and Marton A 2013. Chronic coccidian infestation compromises flight feather quality in house sparrows, Passer domesticus. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 108: 414–428.

Pap PL, Costică A, Vágási CI, Benkő Z and Vincze O 2013. Sex ratio and sexual dimorphism of three lice species with contrasting prevalence parasitizing the house sparrow. Journal of Parasitology 99: 24–30.

Vágási CI, Pap PL, Vincze O, Benkő Z, Marton A and Barta Z 2012. Haste Makes Waste but Condition Matters: Molt Rate-Feather Quality Trade-Off in a Sedentary Songbird. PLoS ONE 7: e40651.

Galván I, Aguilera E, Atiénzar F, Barba E, Blanco G, Cantó JL, Cortés V, Frías Ó, Kovács I, Meléndez L, Møller AP, Monrós JS, Pap PL, Piculo R, Senar JC, Serrano D, Tella JL, Vágási CI, Vögeli M and Jovani R. 2012. Feather mites (Acari: Astigmata) and body condition of their avian hosts: a large correlative study. Journal of Avian Biology 43: 273–279.

Pap PL, Vágási CI, Czirják GÁ, Titilincu A, Pintea A, Osváth G, Fülöp A and Barta Z 2011. The effect of coccidians on the condition and immune profile of molting House Sparrows (Passer domesticus). Auk 128: 330–339.

Vágási CI, Pap PL, Tökölyi J, Székely E and Barta Z 2011. Correlates of variation in flight feather quality in the Great Tit Parus major. Ardea 99: 53–60.

Vágási CI, Pap PL and Barta Z 2010. Haste Makes Waste: Accelerated Molt Adversely Affects the Expression of Melanin-based and Depigmented Plumage Ornaments in House Sparrows. PLoS ONE 5: e14215.

Pap PL, Vágási CI, Osváth G, Mureşan C and Barta Z 2010. Seasonality in the uropygial gland size and feather mite abundance in house sparrows: natural covariation and an experiment. Journal of Avian Biology 41: 653–661.

Pap PL, Czirják GÁ, Vágási CI, Barta Z and Hasselquist D 2010. Sexual dimorphism in immune functions changes during the annual cycle in house sparrows. Naturwissenschaften 97: 891–901.

Pap PL, Vágási CI, Tökölyi J, Czirják GÁ and Barta Z 2010. Variation in haematological indices and immune function during the annual cycle in the Great Tit Parus major. Ardea 98: 105–112.

Pap PL, Vágási CI, Czirják GÁ, Titilincu A, Pintea A and Barta Z 2009. Carotenoids modulate the effect of coccidian infection on the condition and immune response in moulting house sparrows. Journal of Experimental Biology 212: 3228–3235.

Pap PL, Vágási CI, Czirják GÁ and Barta Z 2008. Diet quality affects postnuptial molting and feather quality of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus): interaction with humoral immune function? Canadian Journal of Zoology 86: 834–842.

Pap PL, Barta Z, Tökölyi J and Vágási CI 2007. Increase of feather quality during moult: a possible implication of feather deformities in the evolution of partial moult in the great tit Parus major. Journal of Avian Biology 38: 471–478.