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Dr. Manja Voß

Dr. Manja Voß
  • E-Mail: Manja.Voss@mfn.berlin
  • Tel: +49 30 889140 - 8662
  • Fax: +49 30 889140 - 8561
  • Museum für Naturkunde
    Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung
    Invalidenstraße 43
    10115 Berlin
    Deutschland
  • Publications

    Peer-reviewed:

    Woodruff D. C., Voss M., Harrison J., Qin Q. & Nicholson P.T. 2021. A sirenian from the Maadi Formation (Upper Eocene) from the catacombs of Anubis at North Saqqara (Egypt). In: Nicholson, P.T. with Ikram, S. and Mills, S.. The Catacombs of Anubis at North Saqqara: An archaeological perspective. London: British Museum Publications in Egypt and Sudan.

    Voss M. 2021. Re‑evaluation of the taxonomic and systematic status of “Halitheriumantillense Matthew, 1916 (Mammalia, Sirenia). PalZ 95: 163–165.

    Voss M., Hampe O., Mata Lleonart R., Ferrer Lopez J. 2019b. Fossil Sea Cow Remains (Mammalia: Sirenia) on Paving Stones in the City of Girona (Catalonia, Spain). Geoheritage 11: 1981–1987.

    Haberland C., Hampe O., Autenrieth M. & Voss M. 2019. Balaenoptera borealis Lesson, 1828 – Rediscovery of a holotype. Mammalia 83(4): 343-351.

    Voss M., Antar M. S. M., Zalmout I. S. & Gingerich P. D. 2019a. Stomach contents of the archaeocete Basilosaurus isis: apex predator in oceans of the late Eocene. Paleobiology. PLoS ONE 14(1): 1-24.

    Voss M., Sorbi S. & Domning D.P. 2017. Morphological and systematic re-assessment of the late Oligocene “Halitheriumbellunense reveals a new crown group genus of Sirenia. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 62(1): 163-172.

    Voss M. & Hampe O. 2017. Evidence for two sympatric sirenian species (Mammalia, Tethytheria) in the early Oligocene of Central Europe. Journal of Paleontology 91(2): 337-367.

    Voss M., Berning B. & Reiter E. 2016. A taxonomic and morphological re-evaluation of “Halitherium cristolii Fitzinger, 1842 (Mammalia, Sirenia) from the late Oligocene of Austria, with the description of a new genus. European Journal of Taxonomy 256: 1-32.

    Voss M. 2014. On the invalidity of Halitherium schinzii Kaup, 1838 (Mammalia, Sirenia), with comments on systematic consequences. Zoosystematics and Evolution 90: 87-93.

    Voss M. 2012. A new sea cow record from the lower Oligocene of western Germany: new indications on the skeletal morphology of Halitherium schinzii (Mammalia: Sirenia). Paläontologische Zeitschrift 86: 205-217.

    Voss M., Asbach P. & Hilger A. 2011. Vertebral anomaly in fossil sea cows (Sirenia,Mammalia). The Anatomical Record 294: 980-986.

    Voss M. 2008. New finds of Halitherium (Sirenia, Mammalia) from the lower Oligocene of the Rhine area, Germany. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen 249: 257-269.

    Thesis:

    Voss M. 2013. Revision of the Halitherium-species complex (Mammalia, Sirenia) from the late Eocene to early Miocene of Central Europe and North America. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany, 298 pp.

    Popular Science:

    Voss M. 2021. Das Mainzer Becken – Hotspot für Seekühe vor 30 Millionen Jahren. Alzeyer Geschichtsblätter 45: 5–22.

    Others:

    Hampe O., Schwarz D. & Voss M. (eds.) 2017: Secondary Adaptations of Tetrapods to Life in Water: 37.

    Rahemipour P., Quaisser C., Giere P., Häffner E., Schwarz D. & Voss M. (eds.) 2016. Green museum – how to practice what we preach? 31st annual meeting of the Society for the Preservation of natural history collections, Berlin.

    Abstracts:

    Hampe O., Voss M., Mahlow K. & Vilanova J.C. 2021. Another piece in the puzzle: Eocene sea cow remains found under unusal circumstances - Prototherium ausetanum (Sirenia, Dugongidae) from Catalonia (Spain). Secondary Adaptations of Tetrapods to Life in Water: 38.

    Voss M. & Hampe O. 2017. Extraordinary sea cow fossils in paving slabs of the city Girona (Spain) and their relevance for the evolutionary history of Eocene sirenians (Mammalia, Tethytheria). In: Hampe O., Schwarz D. & Voss, M., eds. Secondary Adaptations of Tetrapods to Life in Water: 37.

    Voss M. 2017. Hybridization in South American sea cows (Mammalia, Sirenia). In: Helling S. & Hartenfels S., eds. Münsterische Forschungen zur Geologie und Paläontologie 109: 82.

    Voss M. & Hampe O. 2016a. Sea cows in the street – how fossil remains in the pedestrian zone of Girona (Spain) extend our knowledge on Eocene sirenians (Mammalia, Tethytheria). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology: 245. (published online)

    Voss M. & Hampe O. 2016b. Sea cows in the street – new insights on Eocene sirenians (Mammalia, Tethytheria) from Girona (Spain). Fossils: Key to evolution, stratigraohy and palaeoenvironments: 157.

    Woodruff D.C, Voss M., Qin Y., Harrison J. & Nicholson P.T. 2015. The Catacomb sea cow from Egypt: when palaeontology meets archaeology. ZfB-Scriptum 4: 59.

    Voss M. 2014a. Phylogenetic relationships and potential hybridization of South American sea cows (Mammalia‚ Sirenia). La biodiversidad sensible: Un patrimonio natural irreemplazable Libro de resumenes, IV Congreso de Colombiano de Zoologia: 773-774.

    Voss M. & Asbach P. 2014. Multiple anomalies of vertebrae in fossil sea cows (Mammalia, Sirenia): characteristics and potential causes. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology: 250. (published online)

    Voss M. 2014b. Three exceptionally preserved phocid pinnipeds from the late Miocene of Peru - new implications for phocid phylogeny and the late Neogene radiation of “southern” seals. In: Röhling H-G and Zulauf G, eds. GeoFrankfurt 2014 – Dynamik des Systems Erde / Earth Systems Dynamics. Schriftenreihe der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften 85: 282.

    Voss M. Hilger A., Asbach P. 2014. Facing the challenge of scanning pachyosteosclerotic bones: a comparison of neutron tomography with X-ray computed tomography using the example of sirenian vertebrae. Abstract Volume of the Digital Specimen. (published online)

    Voss M. 2013a. Breaking with traditional concepts – a new classification for the order Sirenia (Mammalia). In: Reitner J, Qun Y, Yongdong W and Reich M, eds. Palaeobiology and Geobiology of Fossil Lagerstätten through Earth History. Universitätsdrucke Göttingen: 168-169.

    Voss M. 2013b. Sea cows through time and space – a new classification concept for the order with biogeographic implications. Biosystematics EU 2013 – Global systematics Abstract Volume: 226.

    Voss M. 2012a. To validate or not to validate: the re-evaluation of the Halitherium-species complex and its impact on sirenian systematics. Terra Nostra 2012/3: 185.

    Voss M. 2012b. Anomalies of the vertebral column in fossil sea cows (Mammalia, Sirenia). Terra Nostra 2012/3: 185-186.

    Fahlke J.M., Voss M., Gingerich P.D., Antar M.S.M. & Zalmout I.S. 2012. Predation of Basilosaurus isis on Dorudon atrox (Cetacea, Basilosauridae): A case study from the Eocene of Egypt. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology: 91-92. (published online)

    Voss M. 2011a. Vertebral anomaly in fossil sea cows (Mammalia, Sirenia): also sea cows had backaches. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 31(Suppl. 6): 210.

    Voss M. 2011b. On the origin of manatees: a still speculative history. Beiträge zur Paläontologie 32: 83.

    Voss M. 2010a. New insights into the interrelationships of the Halitherium-species complex. Abstract volume of the Symposium of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy (SVPCA): 25. (published online)

    Voss M. 2010b. Character evolution, homoplasy and interrelationships of Sirenia. Zitteliana B 29: 103.

    Voss M. 2010c. Sirenian diversity in the Oligocene of Germany. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology: 183A. (published online)

    Voss M. 2009a. New aspects on innerspecific variation in the genus Halitherium (Mammalia: Sirenia). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 29 (Suppl. 3): 196.

    Voss M. 2009b. Taxonomic and systematic problems within the genus Halitherium (Mammalia, Sirenia). Terra Nostra 2009/3: 118.

    Voss M. 2008. Vertebral anomaly in fossil sea cows (Mammalia, Sirenia). Erlanger Geologiche Abhandlungen 6: 117.

    Voss M. 2007. Discoveries of Sirenian Remains from the early Oligocene of the Rhine-Ruhr Area (Germany) and a new look on the genus Halitherium. In: Warren A, ed. Conference on Australasian Vertebrate Evolution, Palaeontology and Systematics. Geological Society of Australia 85: 45.

    Voss M. 2006. Funde von Halitherium (Sirenia) aus dem Unteroligozän des Rhein-Ruhr-Gebietes. Berichte des Instituts für Geowissenschaften Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel 22: 146.

    Unpublished abstracts:

    Voss M. 2015. Wieviel Anomalie ist Pathologie. 42. Treffen des Arbeitskreises Wirbeltierpaläontologie in der Paläontologischen Gesellschaft, Ahrensburg bei Hamburg.

    Voss M. 2013. Revision of the Halitheriinae and a new classification concept for the order Sirenia (Mammalia). Young Systematists' Forum, November 2013, Natural History Museum, London, UK.

    Voss M. 2008. Discoveries of sirenian remains from the early Oligocene of the Rhine-Ruhr area (Germany) with comments on the genus Halitherium. “PaleoPodium 13”, Budapest.

    Voss M. 2006. Funde von Halitherium (Sirenia) aus dem Unteroligozän des Ruhr-Gebietes. 33. Treffen des Arbeitskreises Wirbeltierpaläontologie in der Paläontologischen Gesellschaft, Greifswald.

  • Curriculum vitae

    Professional employment and academic education (condensed)

    Since 2022 Scientific coordinator for strategic volunteer management at Museum für Naturkunde Berlin

    Since 2020 Associated scientist at Leibniz-Institut zur Analyse des Biodiversitätswandels Hamburg

    2017 – 2022 Officer for strategic science communication at Museum für Naturkunde Berlin

    2013 Dissertation and Disputation at the Department of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

    2005 - 2017 Research assistant in the EU-infrastructure and scientific network projects SYNTHESYS 1 - 3 at Museum für Naturkunde Berlin

    2005 Diploma in Geology/Palaeontology at the Department of Geo- and Environmental Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin

    Honors, scholarships and awards (condensed)

    2021 Special award for science communication of the Inge and Werner Grüter-Foundation

    2013 and 2014 Third and first prize, respectively, for the best conference contribution

    2010, 2014 and 2016 DAAD travel grants to attend international conferences

    2010 Special invitation to field campaign, UNESCO World Heritage Site “Wadi al Hitan” (Valley of Whales), Egypt

    2010 German Future Award for young palaeontologists

    2009 Special invitation to EOL Meeting “Marine Tetrapods”, Biodiversity Synthesis Center, Chicago (USA)

    2008 (2x) and 2015 SYNTHESYS research grants

    2006 – 2009 DFG research project grant

    Professional memberships and reviewer activities (condensed)

    Since 09/2015 Founder member (and until 09/2017 personal board member) of the Dachverband Geo­wissen­schaften/DVGeo

    Since 2014 Advisory board member of the Paläontologische Gesellschaft

    Since 2013 Member of the Gesellschaft für Biologische Systematik (GfBS)

    Since 2011 Reviews for professional journals (e.g., Nature Ecology & Evolution, Palaeo-3, Anatomical Record, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie)

  • Tasks

    • Scientific coordinator for strategic volunteer management

    Research

    Research on the evolution and diversity of marine mammals (sea cows (Sirenia), whales (Cetacea), seals (Pinnipedia)). Detailed research profile under LIB.

    Publications (Selection)

    Woodruff D. C., Voss M., Harrison J., Qin Q. & Nicholson P.T. 2021. A sirenian from the Maadi Formation (Upper Eocene) from the catacombs of Anubis at North Saqqara (Egypt). In: Nicholson, P.T. with Ikram, S. and Mills, S.. The Catacombs of Anubis at North Saqqara: An archaeological perspective. London: British Museum Publications in Egypt and Sudan.

    Voss M., Hampe O., Mata Lleonart R., Ferrer Lopez J. 2019b. Fossil Sea Cow Remains (Mammalia: Sirenia) on Paving Stones in the City of Girona (Catalonia, Spain). Geoheritage 11: 1981–1987.

    Voss M., Antar M. S. M., Zalmout I. S. & Gingerich P. D. 2019a. Stomach contents of the archaeocete Basilosaurus isis: apex predator in oceans of the late Eocene. Paleobiology. PLoS ONE 14(1): 1-24.

    Voss M., Sorbi S. & Domning D.P. 2017. Morphological and systematic re-assessment of the late Oligocene “Halitheriumbellunense reveals a new crown group genus of Sirenia. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 62(1): 163-172.

    Voss M., Asbach P. & Hilger A. 2011. Vertebral anomaly in fossil sea cows (Sirenia,Mammalia). The Anatomical Record 294: 980-986.