Mr Sebastian Chekunov

PhD Candidate

School of Biological Sciences

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Post-doctoral researcher in the Wildlife Crime Research Hub. My project investigates the trade of Australian reptiles and amphibians as exotic pets, exploring the impacts of trade and identifying species most at risk.

Career
Publications
Professional Activities
Contact

Appointments

Date Position Institution name

2025 - ongoing ARC Grant-Funded Researcher (A) University of Adelaide

2019 - 2022 Research Assistant Monash University

Date	Position	Institution name
2025 - ongoing	ARC Grant-Funded Researcher (A)	University of Adelaide
2019 - 2022	Research Assistant	Monash University

Education

Date	Institution name	Country	Title
2021 - 2025	University of Adelaide	Australia	Doctor of Philosophy
2020 - 2020	Monash University	Australia	Bachelor of Science (Honours)
2017 - 2019	Monash University	Australia	Bachelor of Science

Research Interests

Animal Behaviour Animal Physiological Ecology Animal Structure and Function Animal Systematics and Taxonomy Conservation and Biodiversity Ecological Physiology Ecology Invasive Species Ecology Zoology

Journals

Year	Citation
2025	Michael Marshall, B., Alamshah, A. L., Cardoso, P., Cassey, P., Chekunov, S., Eskew, E. A., . . . Hughes, A. C. (2025). The magnitude of legal wildlife trade and implications for species survival.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 122(2), e2410774121. DOI Scopus5 WoS4 Europe PMC2
2025	Toomes, A., Stringham, O. C., Moncayo, S., Hill, K. G. W., Maher, J., Watters, F., . . . Cassey, P. (2025). The pet trade of native species outside of their natural distributions within Australia is a biosecurity risk. Conservation Science and Practice, 7(1), e13298-1-e13298-14. DOI Scopus1 WoS1
2025	Marshall, B. M., Strine, C. T., Gore, M. L., Eskew, E. A., Stringham, O. C., Cardoso, P., . . . Hughes, A. C. (2025). Mapping the global dimensions of US wildlife imports. Current Biology, 35(16), S0960-9822(25)00878-4. DOI
2024	Pili, A. N., Leroy, B., Measey, J. G., Farquhar, J. E., Toomes, A., Cassey, P., . . . Chapple, D. G. (2024). Forecasting potential invaders to prevent future biological invasions worldwide. Global Change Biology, 30(7), e17399-1-e17399-22. DOI Scopus9 WoS8 Europe PMC5
2024	Chekunov, S., Stringham, O., Toomes, A., Prowse, T., & Cassey, P. (2024). Scale of unregulated international trade in Australian reptiles and amphibians. Conservation Biology, 38(5), e14355-1-e14355-12. DOI Scopus5 WoS3 Europe PMC1
2023	Stringham, O. C., Maher, J., Lassaline, C. R., Wood, L., Moncayo, S., Toomes, A., . . . Cassey, P. (2023). The dark web trades wildlife, but mostly for use as drugs. People and Nature, 5(3), 999-1009. DOI Scopus12 WoS12

Committee Memberships

Date Role Committee Institution Country

2021 - ongoing Member Biology Society of South Australia Biology Society of South Australia Australia
Memberships

Date Role Membership Country

2023 - ongoing Member Australian Society of Herpetologists Australia

Date	Role	Committee	Institution	Country
2021 - ongoing	Member	Biology Society of South Australia	Biology Society of South Australia	Australia

Date	Role	Membership	Country
2023 - ongoing	Member	Australian Society of Herpetologists	Australia

Position: PhD Candidate
Email: sebastian.chekunov@adelaide.edu.au
Campus: North Terrace
Building: Benham, floor 1
Org Unit: Research Scholars (Positions)

Mr Sebastian Chekunov

Appointments

Education

Research Interests

Journals

Committee Memberships

Memberships

Connect With Me

External Profiles