Temporal dynamics and diversity of avian malaria parasites in a single host species (2007)
Bensch, S, Waldenström, J, Jonzen, N, Westerdahl, H, Hansson, B, Sejberg, D, ...
We have used molecular methods to unravel a remarkable diversity of parasite lineages in a long-term population study of great reed warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceus that was not foreseen from...
No evidence for inbreeding avoidance in a great reed warbler population (2007)
Hansson, B, Jack, L, Christians, JK, Pemberton, JM, Åkesson, M, Westerdahl, H, ...
Inbreeding depression may drive the evolution of inbreeding avoidance through dispersal and mate choice. In birds, many species show female-biased dispersal, which is an effective inbreeding...
Complex Mhc-based mate choice in a wild passerine (2006)
Bonneaud, C, Chastel, O, Federici, P, Westerdahl, H, Sorci, G
The extreme polymorphism of the vertebrate major histocompatibility complex (Mhc) is famous for protecting hosts against constantly evolving pathogens. Mate choice is often evoked as a means of...
Associations between malaria and MHC genes in a migratory songbird (2005)
Westerdahl, H, Waldenström, J, Hansson, B, Hasselquist, D, Von Schantz, T, Bensch, S
Malaria parasites are a widespread and species-rich group infecting many wild populations of mammals, birds and reptiles. Studies on humans have demonstrated that genetic factors play a key role in...
Bonneaud, C, Richard, M, Faivre, B, Westerdahl, H, Sorci, G
The major histocompatibility complex (Mhc) encodes for highly variable molecules, responsible for foreign antigen recognition and subsequent activation of immune responses in hosts. Mhc polymorphism...
No evidence of an MHC-based female mating preference in great reed warblers (2004)
Female mate-choice based on genetic compatibility is an area of growing interest. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes are likely candidates for such mate-choice since these highly...
Westerdahl, H, Wittzell, H, Von Schantz, T, Bensch, S
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) has a central role in the specific immune defence of vertebrates. Exon 3 of MHC class I genes encodes the domain that binds and presents peptides from...
Observation of a ZZW female in a natural population: implications for avian sex determination (2004)
Arlt, D, Bensch, S, Hansson, B, Hasselquist, D, Westerdahl, H
Avian sex determination is chromosomal; however, the underlying mechanisms are not yet understood. There is no conclusive evidence for either of two proposed mechanisms: a dominant genetic switch or...
Hansson, B, Westerdahl, H, Hasselquist, D, Åkesson, M, Bensch, S
Heterozygosity-fitness correlations (HFCs) at noncoding genetic markers are commonly assumed to reflect fitness effects of heterozygosity at genomewide distributed genes in partially inbred...
Between-year variation of MHC allele frequencies in great reed warblers: selection or drift? (2004)
Westerdahl, H, Hansson, B, Bensch, S, Hasselquist, D
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes are extremely polymorphic and this variation is assumed to be maintained by balancing selection. Cyclic interactions between pathogens and their hosts...
Bonneaud, C, Mazuc, J, Chastel, O, Westerdahl, H
The terminal investment hypothesis predicts that individuals should invest more in their present reproduction if they are less likely to survive to future reproductive events. Infections, which...
Diversity of Mhc class I and IIB genes in house sparrows (Passer domesticus) (2004)
Bonneaud, C, Sorci, G, Morin, V, Westerdahl, H, Zoorob, R, Wittzell, H
In order to understand the expression and evolution of host resistance to pathogens, we need to examine the links between genetic variability at the major histocompatibility complex (Mhc), phenotypic...
The Great reed warbler (GRW) and the Seychelles warbler (SW) are congeners with markedly different demographic histories. The GRW is a normal outbred bird species while the SW population remains...
Mhc diversity in two passerine birds: no evidence far a minimal essential Mhc (2000)
Westerdahl, H, Wittzell, H, Von Schantz, T
Humans express an array of Mhc genes, while the chicken has an Mhc that is relatively small and compact with fewer expressed genes. Here we ask whether the "minimal essential Mhc" of the chicken is...
Bensch, S, Stjernman, M, Hasselquist, D, Östman, Ö, Hansson, B, Westerdahl, H, ...
A fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of avian malaria (genera Haemoproteus and Plasmodium) was amplified from blood samples of 12 species of passerine birds from the genera Acrocephalus,...
Westerdahl, H, Bensch, S, Hansson, B, Hasselquist, D, Von Schantz, T
The theory of parental investment and brood sex ratio manipulation predicts that parents should invest in the more costly sex during conditions when resources are abundant. In the polygynous great...
Bensch, S, Stjernman, M, Hasselquist, D, Ostman, O, Hansson, B, Westerdahl, H, ...
A fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of avian malaria (genera Haemoproteus and Plasmodium) was amplified from blood samples of 12 species of passerine birds from the genera Acrocephalus,...
Observation of a ZZW female in a natural population: implications for avian sex determination.
Arit, D, Bensch, S, Hansson, B, Hasselquist, D, Westerdahl, H
Avian sex determination is chromosomal; however, the underlying mechanisms are not yet understood. There is no conclusive evidence for either of two proposed mechanisms: a dominant genetic switch or...