Research interests:

- host-parasite interaction
- physiological background of defense in birds against parasites
- role of health status, immunocompetence and stress in modulating the process of moulting and breeding in birds
- variation of immune function during the annual cycle in birds

Study site, studied species

- different house sparrow populations
- aviaries for house sparrows and other birds (University Campus, Cluj Napoca)

Selected publications:

• Pap, P.L., Vágási, I.C., Osváth, G., Mureşan, C., Barta, Z. (in press). Seasonality in the uropygial gland size and feather mite abundance in house sparrows: natural covariation and an experiment. Journal of Avian Biology

• Pap, P.L., Czirják, G.Á., Vágási, I.C., Barta, Z., Hasselquist, D. (in press). Sexual dimorphism in immune function changes during the annual cycle in the house sparrows. Naturwissenschaften

• Pap, P.L., Vágási, I.C., Tökölyi, J., Czirják, G.Á., Barta, Z. (2010). Variation in haematological indices and immune function during the annual cycle in the Great Tit Parus major. Ardea 98: 105-112. pdf

• Pap, P.L., Vágási, I.C., Czirják, G.Á., Titilincu, A., Pintea, A., Barta, Z. (2009). Carotenoids modulate the effect of coccidian infection on condition and immune response in moulting house sparrows. Journal of Experimental Biology 212: 3228-3235. pdf

• Muresan, C., Pap, P.L., Czirják, G.Á., Bolfa, P. (2009). Excision of the uropygial gland in the house sparrow. Lucrari Stiintifice, Medicina Veterinara, Timisoara, 17: 111-114.

• Muresan, C., Czirják, G.Á., Pap, P.L., Köbölkuti, L.B. (2008). Ketamine and xylazine anaesthesia in the house sparrow. Bulletin UASVM, Veterinary Medicine 65: 193-195.

• Pap, P.L., Vágási, I.C., Czirják, G.Á., 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. pdf

• Pap, P.L., Barta, Z., Tökölyi, J., Vágási, I.C. (2007). Increase of feather quality during moult: a possible implication of feather deformities in the evolution of partial moult in the great tit. Journal of Avian Biology 38: 471-478. pdf

• Szép, T., Møller, A.P., Piper, S., Nuttall, R., Szabó, D.Z., Pap, P.L. (2007). Migratory connectivity in barn swallows and other hirundines. Journal of Ornithology 148: 257-260. pdf

• Stokke, B.G., Hafstad, I., Rudolfsen, G., Bargain, B., Beier, J., Campas, D.B., Dyrcz, A., Honza, M., Leisler, B., Pap, P.L., Patapavicius, P., Prochazka, P., Schulze-Hagen, K., Thomas, R., Moksnes, A., Møller, A.P., Røskaft, E., Soler, M. (2007). Host density predicts presence of cuckoo parasitism in reed warblers. Oikos 116: 913-922. pdf

• Møller, A.P., Chabi, Y., Cuervo, J.J., de Lope, F., Kilpimaa, J., Kose, M., Matyjasiak, P., Pap, P.L., Saino, N., Sakraoui, R., Schifferli, L., von Hirschheydt, J. (2006). An analysis of continent-wide patterns of sexual selection in a passerine bird. Evolution 60: 856-868 pdf

• Szép, T., Møller, A.P., Piper, S., Nuttall, R., Szabó, Z.D., Pap, P.L. (2006). Searching for potential wintering and migration areas of a Danish Barn Swallow population in South Africa by correlating NDVI with survival estimates. Journal of Ornithology 147: 245-253. pdf

• Pap, P.L., Szép, T., Tökölyi, J., Piper, S.E. (2006). Habitat preference, escape behavior and cues used by feather mites to avoid molting wing feathers. Behavioral Ecology 17: 277-284. pdf

• Pap, P.L., Tökölyi, J., Szép, T. (2005). Host-symbiont relationship and abundance of feather mites in relation to age and body condition of the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica): an experimental study. Canadian Journal of Zoology 83: 1059-1065. pdf

• Pap, P.L., Tökölyi, J., Szép, T. (2005). Frequency and consequences of feather holes in Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica. Ibis 146: 169-175. pdf

• Pap, P.L., Márkus R. (2003). Cost of reproduction, T-lymphocyte mediated immunocompetence and health status in female and nestling Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica. Journal of Avian Biology 34: 428-434. pdf

• Pap, P.L. (2002). Breeding time and sex-specific health status in the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica). Canadian Journal of Zoology 80: 2090-2099. pdf

• Pap, P.L., Szabó, D.Z. (1999). The influence of weather on the nestling growth of the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica). Múzeumi Füzetek 8: 122-130. (in Hungarian with English abstract)

• Kósa F., Munteanu D., Pap P.L., Sándor D.A., Szabó D.Z. (1998). Results of White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) Census in Cluj County in 1996. Studia 43: 65-70. (in Romanian with English abstract)

• Pap, P.L., Szabó, D.Z. (1998). Clutch- and egg size variation in the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) during the breeding season. Collegium Biologicum 2: 75-89. (in Hungarian with English abstract)

• Pap P.L., Szabó D.Z., Ambrus L. (1998). The study of food composition of the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica): the question of load size. Collegium Biologicum 1: 49-54. (in Hungarian with English abstract)

• Pap P.L., Ambrus L., Szabó D.Z. (1997). The study of the breeding biology of the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) in a county in the Transsylvanian Plateau. Múzeumi Füzetek 6. (in Hungarian with English abstract)