December 2015 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

SRRC Vet internship 2016
by Ana Rubio García 10 Dec '15

10 Dec '15

Dear colleagues, As previous years we are pleased to announce: VETERINARY DEPARTMENT INTERNSHIP – SEAL REHABILITATION AND RESEARCH CENTRE The Seal Rehabilitation and Research Center (SRRC) in Pieterburen, The Netherlands, has an exciting opportunity for a Veterinary Intern to work in our Veterinary and Seal Care Departments. This position is scheduled to start in April 2016 and lasts one year. This position requires a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, and previous marine mammal or wildlife experience is a plus. The SRRC Veterinary Department includes two veterinarians and one veterinary intern. We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic candidate who will join our team and will work closely in a team setting with staff and volunteers to assist with all aspects of veterinary care and husbandry of sick and injured seals. Other responsibilities include but are not limited to: daily care of animals, transport of live/dead marine animals, maintenance of daily nutritional and medical records, sampling for various research projects, and data entry. Additional duties and projects may be assigned by staff. This position is unpaid. The intern is required to find its own transportation to Pieterburen. We provide housing (gas, electricity, water and internet included), meals and health insurance. The intern should expect to be scheduled to cover a variety of shifts including weekdays, nights, weekends and holidays. The ideal candidate should be mature and motivated, and possess a strong work ethic and excellent observational and communication skills (a fluent English level is required). The deadline for applications is January 31st, 2016. Interested applicants should submit a copy of the CV, an intention letter and two recommendation letters. Note that the application materials should be in English. Applications and questions should be submitted to vet(a)zeehondencreche.nl indicating in the subject VETERINARY INTERN 2016. For more information about the SRRC visit www.zeehondencreche.nl. Kind regards *Ana Rubio García* Head of the Veterinary Department Stichting Zeehondencrèche Pieterburen Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre SRRC Hoofdstraat 94a 9968 AG Pieterburen The Netherlands Mobile phone: +31 (0)6 12 981154 Email: ana(a)zeehondencreche.nl <guillermo(a)zeehondencreche.nl> Website: www.zeehondencreche.nl

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Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program 2016 field season positions
by Lizabeth Kashinsky - NOAA Affiliate 09 Dec '15

09 Dec '15

Recruitment for the 2016 The Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program field season is underway! Announcements for field camp leaders and assistants will be coming out shortly. The announcement for volunteer positions is below. *JIMAR HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL FIELD CAMP VOLUNTEER* The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center/Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR) Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program (HMSRP) is seeking 4-5 volunteers to assist experienced staff with monk seal research and recovery activities for the 2016 field season. While volunteer positions do not require as much previous field experience as paid field staff positions, ideal applicants for this volunteer position should have the right personality and basic capabilities to live on a remote, isolated atoll for ~4.5 months. These volunteer positions require about 2-3 weeks of training and packing at the Inouye Regional Center located at Ford Island, Honolulu before field deployment to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). Once the field season is over, an additional week will take place in Honolulu to clean up gear and equipment. Dates are subject to change, but the positions are tentatively scheduled to begin mid to late March with a field deployment date in early to mid April. Field staff will be deployed approximately 4.5 months with a tentative return date in late August or early September. The position end date is tentatively scheduled for some time in mid-September. Travel to and from Honolulu and food, lodging, and transportation in Honolulu before deployment are *not *provided. Transportation between Honolulu and field sites and food and lodging in the field will be provided. Due to unforeseen circumstances, departure delays could result in longer periods in Honolulu that may result in additional unexpected and uncompensated living expenses. All other qualifications being equal, preference will be given to applicants currently living on Oahu so they can be incorporated into our program before official field training begins to gain as much useful experience ahead of time as possible. Volunteers will be working in groups of 2-4 people per camp with rustic living conditions (e.g., living in tents, bathing in the ocean, no internet, no cell phone coverage, limited communication with the outside world). Deployment to these remote field sites is a serious undertaking. There are logistical constraints to working at such sites since the NWHI are hundreds of miles from Honolulu. Transportation to the NWHI is via ship to most sites and takes days to weeks to arrive. Ships are sometimes at the mercy of the weather and subject to mechanical failures which could result in significant delays in scheduled pick-up and drop-off as well as delays in emergency responses (including evacuation). Please see the volunteer position description below for more details. Applicants must be able to meet both the U.S. Department of Commerce and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) security requirements to access the work location, and also the health requirements to board a NOAA vessel. To apply: Please send a cover letter and a resume that includes 3 supervisory references to Lizabeth Kashinsky at *Lizabeth.Kashinsky(a)noaa.gov <Lizabeth.Kashinsky(a)noaa.gov>.* Please clearly state in your cover letter why you are interested in the position and clearly address all qualifications. Positions will be open until filled. However, we strongly encourage applicants to apply by* January 4, 2016.* *JIMAR Hawaiian Monk Seal Field Camp Volunteer Position Description. *Located at the National Marine Fisheries (NMFS), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC),Honolulu, Hawaii. *DUTIES: * Under guidance of field camp leader, field camp assistant, and/or NMFS personnel, assists with field camp preparation and data collection, entry and editing. Maintains a safe working environment for all field personnel. Collects census and life history data on Hawaiian monk seals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and main Hawaiian Islands. Enters data into computer databases. Collects, inventories, and removes debris capable of entangling seals and turtles. Assists with collection of tissue samples for DNA analysis. Assists with tagging and measuring weaned pups under the guidance of field camp leader/assistant. May assist with the recovery actions including disentangling seals from marine debris, and translocating weaned pups from areas of high shark predation to areas of lower shark predation risk. This may also involve assisting the field camp leader during fishing procedures by photographing, recording data, handing equipment and supplies to the leader, and holding the line taut, all while standing at a safe distance away. Assists with preparation of equipment and supplies for field camps. Packs equipment and supplies for shipment to Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Loads and unloads gear from transport vessel. Assists with establishing field camp at remote site. At the field site, under guidance of field camp leader, field camp assistant, and/or NMFS personnel may assist with necropsies; collect and assist in the processing of scats and spews for food habits analysis. Participates in daily maintenance and operation of field camp. Assists with return, repair, and clean-up of field equipment and supplies. May participate in boating operations under the direction, and at the discretion of, the field camp leader. Performs other duties as assigned. *PRIMARY QUALIFICATIONS**:* *EDUCATION: *High School Diploma or equivalent. *EXPERIENCE:* Some field or wilderness experience, including working in small groups. Some previous experience collecting or working with data. *ABIL/KNOW/SKILLS:* Good communication and team skills. Ability to perform accurate data entry. Ability to follow directions and abide by the restrictions of living and working in a fragile and federally protected ecosystem. Capable of maintaining a positive attitude in sometimes challenging field conditions and succeed and thrive in an isolated environment with minimal contact with current events and family/friends during the extent of deployment. Demonstrated ability to be a good team player. Working knowledge of personal computers including use of word processing, spreadsheets, and databases. *PHYSICAL/MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS: *Ability to swim. Ability to work in remote locations for extended periods of time. Must be able to work long hours in the sun. Must be able to walk long distances (up to 7 miles) in the sand carrying 25-35 pounds of field gear. Must be able to manually restrain immature seals (up to 200 pounds). Must be able to obtain medical clearance for embarking/working on NOAA research vessels or other appropriate vessels which includes providing proof of required immunizations and/or obtaining the necessary immunizations as required by NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations. *SECONDARY QUALIFICATIONS: *Prior field experience, including experience working within small groups in remote settings. Prior monk seal experience in the main Hawaiian Islands or in a Hawaiian monk seal field camp. Previous experience in field or laboratory studies of marine mammals, previous experience handling marine mammals or other wildlife, previous data entry experience. Prefer applicants interested in pursuing career in marine mammalogy or related field. For positions requiring travel between multiple-island atolls, possess prior experience with small boats and/or the ability to conduct routine maintenance on small boats. Possess NOAA certification for small boat operations (having completed Motorboat Operators Certification Course (MOCC) and NOAA small boat component training) to work at multiple-island atolls. *INQUIRIES: Lizabeth Kashinsky* -- Lizabeth Kashinsky JIMAR/Veterinary Program Senior Supervisor Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program NOAA IRC NMFS/PIFSC/PSD 1845 WASP Blvd., Building 176 Honolulu, HI 96818 Ph: (808) 725-5719 Fax: (808) 725-5567

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Two new seal publications
by Andrew Lowther 09 Dec '15

09 Dec '15

G'day all, Just to introduce two new publications to come out of the NP lab in a bit of a flurry towards the end of the year. Feel free to contact any of the authors for further details, and for those of us who cannot attend the conference in San Francisco this year due to Antarctic fieldwork commitments, wishing you a Merry Xmas :) The first is not 'exclusively' marine mammal-focused, but utilizes hydrographic data collected by CTD-SRDL instrumented southern elephant seals to provide fine-scale three-dimensional habitat data for two other diving predators: A.D. Lowther, C. Lydersen, K.M. Kovacs. (2015). A sum greater than its parts: merging multi-predator tracking studies to increase ecological understanding. Ecosphere 6(12). Abstract. Understanding how animals find prey in heterogeneous environments is a central goal of ecology. Placing this process in an environmental context requires a lot of information regarding the characteristics of both the habitat selected by the animal and its surroundings. In high-latitude marine systems, information about subsurface habitats of marine predators is often very limited. Animal-borne oceanographic instruments have added a new modality to improve our understanding of marine predators and their habitats. While these instruments do not collect environmental information beyond that experienced by the animals carrying them, our study makes use of an oceanographic dataset collected by southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina; N 1⁄4 15), to provide environmental context for two sympatrically foraging penguin species in the waters close to the subantarctic island of Bouvetøya. The seals collected 154 CTD profiles during the study period, averaging 4.9 (63.67 ) profiles per day, documenting the stratification of the upper water layer in terms of both seawater density and temperature. Using these data, we quantitatively describe the relationship between the diving behavior of the penguins (N 1⁄4 3,745 dives) and the hydrographic properties of the three-dimensional area in which they were foraging. Both penguin species appeared to favor water characterized by a shallow mixed layer. The chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica) dove within a shallow, unstable body of water close to the colony, whereas macaroni penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus) exploited the bottom of the surface mixed layer further offshore. The hydrographic properties preferred by the penguins match closely those that describe the highest densities of their preferred prey, krill (Euphausia superba), identified during a temporally and spatially concurrent study. We demonstrate how merging multiple telemetric data streams from animals can shed new light on aspects of foraging behavior beyond simply relating movements to two-dimensional, remotely sensed measurements of the environment. The second provides an empirical test of the accuracy of VHF telemetry data in determining the haulout behavior of Antarctic fur seals: Lowther, A.D., Ahonen, H., Hofmeyr, G., Oosthuizen, W.C., de Bruyn, P.J.N., Lydersen, C., Kovacs, K.M. (2015). Reliability of VHF telemetry data for measuring attendance patterns of marine predators: a comparison with time-depth recorder data. Marine Ecology Progress Series 538: 249-256. ABSTRACT: Very high frequency (VHF) radiotelemetry data has been used for over 30 yr to monitor the behavior patterns of otariid seals. These data have been used in a wide variety of ways, from characterizing the reproductive and foraging ecology of these species to inferring ecosystem changes based on variation in attendance patterns. Yet the accuracy of VHF data has never been appropriately evaluated. Our study compares VHF data collected on 16 lactating Antarctic fur seals to assess onshore attendance with concurrently collected time depth recorder (TDR) data used as the 'true' measurement of time spent onshore. Within the retrieved datasets, 25% of the VHF data could not be interpreted with any reliability. Additionally, there were significant differences in the number and duration of attendance bouts between the 2 instrument types, with VHF data overesti- mating attendance bout duration by approximately 8.9 h on average. Importantly, the magnitude and direction of errors between VHF and TDR measurements were not systematic, suggesting that VHF data is an inappropriate method for collecting attendance data. Modelling the raw VHF data in a state-space framework elicited mean attendance durations that were indistinguishable from TDR-derived measurements, suggesting this approach may provide a means to re-examine historic VHF data. However, given the evolution of electronic tags in terms of sophistication, miniaturization, longevity and decreasing cost over the last 30 yr, TDRs are a more appropriate means of collecting attendance data on centrally foraging marine mammals such as otariids.

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Advanced PAMGuard training course - second announcement
by PAMTech 08 Dec '15

08 Dec '15

PAMTech (pamtech.eu) is offering an Advanced PAMGuard course, teaching the advanced use of the leading passive acoustic monitoring research and industry software, PAMGuard (pamguard.org) for offline analysis. We are a small UK-based company made up of PAMGuard developers and experienced field acousticians who can enable you to get the most out of PAM applications. A high tutor-to-student ratio on our courses ensures participants can get individual assistance with their training requirements. Our next course is running on: 29/01/2016 and 30/01/2016 This two-day classroom-based course allows those with previous PAMGuard experience to get to grips with more advanced features, focusing on offline analysis and data management. The course will include some core analysis modules, but participants will also be able to tailor training to their particular needs by selecting from a range of optional modules including complex classifiers and localisation techniques, and the PAMGuard MATLAB library. There is also the opportunity to bring your own datasets and explore ways they can be analysed using PAMGuard. The course will take place on the Vine Trust Barge, Prince of Wales Dock, Edinburgh, EH6 7DX, Scotland, UK. Cost 350 GBP Participants must bring their own laptop running Linux or Windows (not OSX). We would recommend Windows 7/8.1 or Ubuntu 12.10+. Microsoft Access is also very useful for the course. For those wishing to follow the MATLAB module, a copy of MATLAB version 2012 or above is required. Course costs do not include accommodation, travel or food. To find out more, contact: pamtech.acoustics(a)gmail.com Or go to: pamtech.eu To book go to: http://pamtechadvancedpamguard.eventzilla.net (50% non-refundable deposit required)

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Photo-Id Volunteer Assistants Needed, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
by Amy Brossard 07 Dec '15

07 Dec '15

Research Volunteer Opportunity at HBOI Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University is now accepting applications for research volunteers in the Photo-ID program. Successful applicants will participate in marine mammal photo-identification including image analysis and field activities. Positions are available throughout the year with 3 sessions: • January – May • May – August • August – December There is flexibility with start and end dates for each session. Please submit application materials with as much notice as possible. If interested in participating for a longer duration, it may be possible to combine two of the above sessions or extend one session by a few weeks. Volunteers will be expected to commit to a minimum of 20-30 hours per week, excluding University recognized holidays. Harbor Branch is located on the east coast of Florida in Fort Pierce. The photo-ID program conducts boat-based photo-ID surveys of Western North Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in estuarine waters of the Indian River Lagoon. Research Volunteers will focus on image analysis with some photo-ID field training as well. These are unpaid volunteer opportunities where the applicant will gain training and experience with marine mammal photo-Id and image analysis. Participants will be under the supervision of experienced dolphin researchers and will gain insight into marine mammal research. If students intend to receive university credit for their participation, they are responsible for making all arrangements with their educational institution. Participants are also responsible for their own living arrangements, transportation and expenses; however assistance with finding appropriate housing may be provided. Ideal candidates will be advanced undergraduates or recent graduates of a university program in marine science, biology, ecology, or a related field. We are seeking applicants with a strong work ethic, a high attention to detail, and a mature attitude towards marine mammal research. As these are unpaid opportunities, applicants must fill out the Volunteer Application found at http://fau.edu/hboi/community/Volunteer%20Application%202-27-12%20fillable.… To apply, please send a résumé and cover letter with the completed Volunteer Application to Cathy Rossmell, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Administrative Services Coordinator at crossmel(a)fau.edu. Please indicate Photo-ID as your area of interest on the application. Please include the session(s) and/or dates you are applying for in your cover letter. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Photo-Id Department Volunteer Supervisor, Amy Brossard at abrossard(a)fau.edu<mailto:abrossard@fau.edu>. Thank you, Amy L. Brossard Research Assistant & Volunteer Supervisor Dolphin Photo-Id Program Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute 5600 US 1 North, Fort Pierce, FL 34946 772-242-2402 (office) abrossard(a)fau.edu<mailto:abrossard@fau.edu>

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New paper on large whale entanglements and rope strength
by Amy Knowlton 07 Dec '15

07 Dec '15

We are pleased to announce the publication of the following paper in Conservation Biology: Effects of ﬁshing rope strength on the severity of large whale entanglements Amy R. Knowlton, Jooke Robbins, Scott Landry, Henry A. McKenna, Scott D. Kraus, and Timothy B. Werner The article is available open access at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cobi.12590/abstract We have also developed 30 right whale case studies for the entanglements analyzed in this paper which can be found on the Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction website: http://www.bycatch.org/project/case-studies-north-atlantic-right-whale-fish… ABSTRACT Entanglement in fixed fishing gear affects whales worldwide. In the United States, deaths of North Atlantic right (Eubalaena glacialis) and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) have exceeded management limits for decades. We examined fishing gear removed from live and dead entangled whales along the U.S. East Coast and the Canadian Maritimes from 1994-2010 to determine rope polymer type, breaking strength, and diameter and compare them to entangled whales by species, age, and injury severity. For the 132 retrieved ropes from 70 cases, average tested breaking strength was range 0.80-39.63 kN, mean 11.64 kilonewtons (kN), SD 8.29 ( , which is 26% lower than strength at manufacture (range 2.89-53.38 kN, mean 15.70 kN, SD 9.89). Median rope diameter was 9.5 mm. Right and humpback whales were found in ropes with significantly stronger breaking strengths at manufacture than minke whales (19.30, 17.13 and 10.47 mean kN , respectively). Adult right whales were found in stronger ropes (mean 34.09 kN) than juvenile right whales (mean 15.33 kN) and than all humpback whale age classes (mean 17.37 kN). For right whales, severity of injuries increased since the mid-1980s, possibly due to changes in rope manufacturing in the mid-1990s that resulted in stronger ropes at the same diameter. Our results suggest that broad adoption of ropes with breaking strengths of ≤7.56 kN (≤1,700 lbsf) could reduce the number of life-threatening entanglements for large whales by at least 72% and yet could provide sufficient strength to withstand the routine forces involved in many fishing operations. A reduction of this magnitude would achieve nearly all the mitigation legally required for U.S. stocks of North Atlantic right and humpback whales. Ropes with reduced breaking strength should be developed and tested to determine the feasibility of their use in a variety of fisheries. Please contact me if any questions. best, Amy Amy Knowlton Research Scientist New England Aquarium Central Wharf Boston, MA 02110 617-973-0210 aknowlton(a)neaq.org

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Marine Mammal Rehab and Rescue Internship
by Jeff Hall 07 Dec '15

07 Dec '15

Program Description: California Wildlife Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured and orphaned native wildlife. CWC fulfills this mission through marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation, and treatment of avian and terrestrial wildlife at our rehabilitation facility. This internship will provide an exciting and challenging education experience in the marine mammal field. The interns will be working closely with Marine Department staff in all aspects of stranding response and rehabilitation. Time commitment: 32 hours per week minimum. Session Information: Start and end dates somewhat flexible Session I - mid February to mid April Session II - beginning of April to end of May Session III - mid May to mid July Session IV - beginning of July to end of August Application Deadlines: Sessions I & II, January 15 Sessions III & IV, March 31 Intern Qualifications: The internship is open to all applicants at least 18 years of age or older. Undergraduate students and non-students alike are encouraged to apply. If the intern intends to receive academic credit, the intern will be reponsible for making all arrangements with their education institutions. Due to the unpredictable nature of marine mammal stranding repsponse, interns may sometimes be required to work beyond their normal scheduled hours. Interns must be able and willing to work flexible hours including weekends and holidays. Interns will be required to have good physical strength and the ability to lift/carry 50 pounds. Animal care and/or marine mammal experience is a plus but not a requirement. Housing/Transportation: Housing and transportation are the responsibility of the intern. Must have own transportation and current drivers license. Application Process: Letter of intent, stating which Session(s) you are applying for Resume Two letters of reference Proof of vaccinations (tetanus) Submit the above items via email to: Jeff Hall Marine Program Manager jeff(a)cawildlife.org Please visit our website for more information: www.cawildlife.org

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SeaBASS 2016
by Jennifer Miksis-Olds 07 Dec '15

07 Dec '15

We are pleased to announce SeaBASS 2016. The application period is now open and closes Feb 29, 2016. SeaBASS provides the opportunity for graduate students interested in pursuing careers in marine bioacoustics to develop a strong foundation of both marine animal biology and acoustics from distinguished lecturers in the field. The goals of SeaBASS are to discuss important topics in marine bioacoustics, foster technical communication across disciplines, and promote mentoring and collaboration. SeaBASS gives students an opportunity to learn from experts who will discuss a suite of topics not often offered at any one university. WHEN: June 5-10, 2016 WHERE: Syracuse University, NY COSTS: The costs of student attendance (room and board, based on double occupancy for students) will be funded from sponsor support. There is no registration fee. Full-time participation of all participants is required. Travel costs are the responsibility of the student, but travel assistance can be requested during the application process. APPLICATION: On-line application is available at <http://www.arl.psu.edu/education_seabass.php> http://www.arl.psu.edu/education_seabass.php. Applications deadline is February 29, 2016. Direct questions to Dr. Jennifer Miksis-Olds via email at: <mailto:jlm91@arl.psu.edu> jlm91(a)arl.psu.edu or Dr. Susan Parks at <mailto:sparks@syr.edu> sparks(a)syr.edu. COURSE TOPICS: Introduction to Underwater Sound, Sound Propagation, Marine Mammal Biology & Behavior, Sound Production, Fisheries Acoustics/Fish Behavior, Hearing and Masking, Marine Animal Acoustic Communication, Echolocation, Passive Acoustic Monitoring, Hot Topic: Effects of Noise, Hot Topic: Density Estimation Jennifer L. Miksis-Olds, PhD Director, Center for Marine Science & Technology Senior Research Associate, The Applied Research Laboratory Associate Professor, Graduate Program in Acoustics The Pennsylvania State University PO Box 30, Mailstop 3510D State College, PA 16804 (814) 865-9318 jlm91(a)psu.edu <mailto:jlm91@psu.edu> www.personal.psu.edu/jlm91/ <http://www.personal.psu.edu/jlm91/>

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Sound Analysis Workshop, March 28 to April 1, 2016
by Liz D. Rowland 07 Dec '15

07 Dec '15

The Bioacoustics Research Program will be running a Sound Analysis Workshop featuring Raven Pro from March 28 to April 1, 2016 at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York. The workshop is intended primarily for biologists interested in analysis, visualization, and measurement of animal sounds. The workshop covers basic principles of spectrographic analysis and measurement of animal sounds, as well as specific tools and techniques in Raven Pro. The maximum class size is 11, and there are currently 7 places available. The standard fee is $1,400, but there is a discounted rate of $1,050 for registered students (Bachelors, Master or Ph.D.). The fee covers tuition, lunches, and a complimentary 1-yr license for Raven<http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/raven/RavenOverview.html>. More details can be found here<http://www.birds.cornell.edu/page.aspx?pid=2713#BRPRevised=2> (Education & Outreach tab). Please contact Liz Rowland, edr6(a)cornell.edu<mailto:edr6@cornell.edu> if you're interested or have questions.

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New paper on early baleen whale evolution
by Felix G. Marx 06 Dec '15

06 Dec '15

?Dear colleagues, please find below the abstract and link to our recently published, open access paper on early baleen whale evolution: Marx, F.G., Tsai, C.-H. and Fordyce, R.E. 2015. A new Early Oligocene toothed 'baleen' whale (Mysticeti: Aetiocetidae) from western North America: one of the oldest and the smallest. Royal Society Open Science 2: 150476 Link: http://rsos.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/2/12/150476 Abstract: Archaic toothed mysticetes represent the evolutionary transition from raptorial to bulk filter feeding in baleen whales. Aetiocetids, in particular, preserve an intermediate morphological stage in which teeth functioned alongside a precursor of baleen, the hallmark of all modern mysticetes. To date, however, aetiocetids are almost exclusively Late Oligocene and coeval with both other toothed mysticetes and fully fledged filter feeders. By contrast, reports of cetaceans from the Early Oligocene remain rare, leaving the origins of aetiocetids, and thus of baleen, largely in the dark. Here, we report a new aetiocetid, Fucaia buelli, from the earliest Oligocene (ca 33-31?Ma) of western North America. The new material narrows the temporal gap between aetiocetids and the oldest known mysticete, Llanocetus (ca 34?Ma). The specimen preserves abundant morphological detail relating to the phylogenetically informative ear bones (otherwise poorly documented in this family), the hyoid apparatus and much of the (heterodont) dentition. Fucaia comprises some of the smallest known mysticetes, comparable in size with the smallest odontocetes. Based on their phylogenetic relationships and dental and mandibular morphology, including tooth wear patterns, we propose that aetiocetids were suction-assisted raptorial feeders and interpret this strategy as a crucial, intermediary step, enabling the transition from raptorial to filter feeding. Following this line of argument, a combination of raptorial and suction feeding would have been ancestral to all toothed mysticetes, and possibly even baleen whales as a whole.? Kind regards, Felix Marx ________________________________ Felix G. Marx PhD Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow *Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium *Monash University, Melbourne, Australia *Museum Victoria, Melbourne, Australia Address: School of Biological Sciences, Monash University 25 Rainforest Walk, VIC 3800, Australia Tel. +61 (0)3 9905 1190 (Monash University) or +61 (0)3 8341 7733 (Museum Victoria)

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