Immune responses link parasite genetic diversity, prevalence and plumage morphs in common buzzards
The evolution and maintenance of conspicuous phenotypic polymorphisms has challenged evolutionary ecologists for centuries. Polymorphisms in pleiotropic cascades or genetic linkage may lead to correlations of life history traits such as immunity, parasite infection levels, pigmentation and lifetime reproductive success. The common buzzard Buteo buteo is a bird of prey occurring in several plumage