Research focus

I’m interested in natural and sexual selection & phenomenon of hybridization. Recently I have focused on the MHC gene complex and its wide connections with adaptive traits, survival and mating performance in bird species. My model species: Herring Gull complex Larus argentatus sensu lato, Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo.


Projects

2007- 2010 Research Grant of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education POL-POSTDOC III “The influence of the MHC genes polymorphism on adaptive traits in Collared Flycatcher  Ficedula albicollis”; Nr ZB/MNiSW/07/2006/14. Conducted at the Jagiellonian University, Institute of Environmental Sciences; principal investigator with the cooperation of prof. J. Radwan & prof. M. Cichoń

2006-2009 Research Grant of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education “The role of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in mate choice in the colonial gull species”; Nr N304 073 31/2805. Principal investigator; other investigators- dr. Grzegorz Neubauer


Participation in fallowing projects

2008-2011 Research Grant of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education “The influence of helminth parasites on the survival, growth and condition of the cormorant chicks Phalacrocorax carbo”; Nr N N304 081035. Principal investigator- dr Gerard Kanarek, Ornithological Station, Museum and Institute of Zoology, Gdansk; other investigators- dr Andrzej Kruszewicz, dr M. Zagalska-Neubauer

2008-2010 Research Grant of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education “The role of extrapair mating in maintenance of reproductive isolation in the Herring and Caspian Gulls hybrid zone”; Nr N N304 339334. Principal investigator- dr Grzegorz Neubauer, Ornithological Station, Museum and Institute of Zoology, Gdansk; other investigators- dr M. Zagalska-Neubauer

2004-2005 Polish-French bilateral program Polonium, The Ministry of Science and Higher Education ‘Hybridization in large white-headed gulls of the Larus argentatus-cachinnans-michahellis complex: biometric and genetic analysis of mid-polish population. In cooperation with Department of Vertebrate Zoology/ Ornithological Station PAS (dr. G. Neubauer-PI, dr. M. Zagalska-Neubauer) & CEFE CNRS, Montpellier, France (dr. L. Gay-PI, dr. J.-M. Pons, dr. P.-A. Crochet)


Selected publications 

Neubauer G., Zagalska-Neubauer M., Pons J.-M., Crochet P.-A., Chylarecki P., Przystalski A., Gay L. 2009. Assortative Mating Without Complete Reproductive Isolation in a Zone of Recent Secondary Contact between Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus) and Caspian Gulls (L. cachinnans). Auk 126: 409-419.
Gay L., Neubauer G., Zagalska-Neubauer M., Pons J.-M., Bell D. A., Crochet P.-A. 2009. Speciation with gene flow in the large white-headed gulls: does selection counterbalance introgression? Heredity 102: 133-146
Gay L., Neubauer G., Zagalska-Neubauer M., Pons J.-M., David P. & Crochet P.-A. 2007. Molecular and morphological patterns of introgression between two white-headed gull species in a zone of recent secondary contact. Molecular Ecology 16: 3215-3227.
Neubauer G., Zagalska-Neubauer M., Betleja J., 2007. Origin of Caspian Gulls Larus cachinnans breeding in Poland. Brit. Birds 100: 554-557.
Zagalska-Neubauer M., Dubiec A. 2007. Techniki i markery molekularne w badaniach zmienności genetycznej ptaków. Not. Orn. 48:193-206.
Dubiec A., Zagalska-Neubauer M. 2006. Molecular techniques for sex identification in birds. Biological Letters 43:3-12.
Neubauer G., Zagalska-Neubauer M. 2006. Dymorfizm płciowy i oznaczanie płci w grupie mewy srebrzystej Larus argentatus na podstawie pomiarów biometrycznych. Not. Orn. 47: 185-191.
Neubauer G., Zagalska-Neubauer M., Gwiazda R., Faber M., Bukaciński D., Betleja J., Chylarecki P. 2006. Breeding large gulls in Poland: distribution,
numbers, trends and hybridization. Vogelwelt 127: 11-22.
Neubauer G., Faber M., Zagalska-Neubauer M. 2005. Występowanie mewy srebrzystej Larus argentatus, mewy białogłowej L. cachinnans i mewy romańskiej L. 
michahellis w środkowej Polsce w cyklu rocznym. Not. Orn. 46: 61-76.
Zagalska-Neubauer M. 2004. Wzrost liczebności mew z kompleksu mewy srebrzystej w Wielkopolsce w latach 1990-2001. Not. Orn. 45:159-168.