B.S. 2002: Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University

Awards:

2003: Research Grant in Ciconiiform Biology and Conservation, Waterbird Society
2003: Grinnell Award, Cooper Ornithological Society
2003: Student Membership Award, American Ornithologists’ Union
2001: Research Experience for Undergraduates, American Museum of Natural History
2001: Robert C. Bates Summer Traveling Fellowship, Yale University

Research Interests:

Exploring the systematic relationships of basal neornithines through the study of morphology (of both extant and extinct taxa), physiology, genes, and behavior.

Current research:

My current studies focus largely on the phylogenetic relationships of recent and extinct pelecaniforms and the question of this avian order’s monophyly/paraphyly. Composed of nine genera and sixty-six species, these highly specialized birds have classically been considered a natural grouping and were designated a monophyletic assemblage in the 1980’s on the basis of morphological features. Controversy surrounds the inclusion/exclusion of the Shoe-bill stork (Balaeniceps rex) within Pelecaniformes and more recent molecular, muscular, and osteological analyses of this avian order have given traditional Pelecaniformes a paraphyletic or polyphyletic status, attributing former claims of monophyly to limited morphological datasets and homoplasy.

I have already constructed an osteological dataset to explore the phylogenetic relationships of extant and fossil pelecaniforms and will be adding morphological characters from eggshell and feather structure analyses in the near future. Additionally, I will gather molecular and behavioral data to address the question of monophyly/paraphyly of this avian order. Three main groupings of phylogenetic trees will be produced as a result of these studies: those constructed from morphological and physiological characters, those constructed from molecular characters, and those constructed from behavioral characters. Theses trees will provide a means of comparison of the different phylogenetic signals associated with morphological and physiological, molecular, and behavioral features, which will enable me to assess the utility of the different types of data and construct more accurrate methods for the integration of these different types of data. These trees will also serve as the basis for the investigation of the evolution of characters within Pelecaniformes. Using fossil taxa as calibration points, the rate of evolution for molecular, morphological, and behavioral characters can be estimated for this avian clade. Next comparisons of rates of evolution can be made across different sets of characters as well as across different clades within Pelecaniformes. Addition comparisons of the amount of homoplasy evident in each set of data and whether or not one set of characters are plagued by more instances of homoplasy than others will offer yet another route towards the understanding of character evolution. This study will provide a foundation for the exploration of the patterns and mechanisms underlying the evolution of novel features in other taxonomic groupings. A better understanding of the relationships within this basal avian clade will greatly aid the resolution of those of more advanced members of Aves as well.

Publications:

Dyke, G.J., Gulas, B.E. 2002. The fossil galliform bird Paraortygoides from the Eocene of England. American Museum Novitates. 3360, 14 pp.

Dyke, G.J., Gulas, B.E., Crowe, T.M. 2003. The suprageneric relationships of galliform birds (Aves, Galliformes): a cladistic analysis of morphological characters. Zoological Journal of the Linnaean Society. 137: 227-244.

Gulas-Wroblewski, B.E., Wroblewski, A. F.-J. 2003. A crown-group galliform bird from the Forbidden City’ (Middle Eocene), Bridger Formation of Wyoming, Palaeontology, in press.

Abstracts:

Gulas-Wroblewski, B.E. 2002. Gallinuloides wyomingensis: Reanalysis of a fossil galliform bird. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 22, supplement to Number 3: 61A.

Gulas-Wroblewski, B.E. 2003. New evidence for pelecaniform (Aves: Pelecaniformes) diversity during the Eocene of Wyoming. Geological Society of America Abstracts, with Programs, in press.

Gulas-Wroblewski, B.E. 2003. A new pelecaniform phylogeny: an argument for monophyly and the importance of fossils. The Auk, in press.

Gulas-Wroblewski, B.E. 2003. Limnofregata: not a frigatebird anymore. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, in press.

Gulas, B.E., Dyke, G.J. 2001. The phylogenetic relationships of fossil and Recent galliform birds. Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association, Geological Museum, University of Copenhagen.

Gulas-Wroblewski, B.E., UiBreaslain, S. 2002. A new pelecaniform bird from the Green River Formation (Eocene) of Wyoming. Geological Society of America Abstracts, with Programs, in press.

Gulas, B.E., Wroblewski, A. F.-J. 2002. A new fossil galliform from the Bridger Formation (Eocene: 50-48 Ma.), southwestern Wyoming. Geological Society of America Abstracts, with Programs, 34:1.

Wroblewski, A. F.-J., Gulas-Wroblewski, B.E. 2002. Tidal and brackish water indicators in the Meeteetse Formation, Elk Basin, Wyoming. Geological Society of America Abstracts, with Programs, in press.