Sebastian Chekunov

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

Dr Sebastian Chekunov

ARC Grant Funded Researcher (A)

School of Biological Sciences

College of Science

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.

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

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

Year Citation
2026 Chekunov, S., Anderson, R. O., Prowse, T. A. A., Measey, J., Toomes, A., & Cassey, P. (2026). Cold‐blooded commerce: Characterizing and predicting trade in Australian squamates. Conservation Science and Practice, 8(4), e70233-1-e70233-17.
DOI
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 Scopus16 WoS16 Europe PMC3
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 Scopus3 WoS4 Europe PMC2
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 Scopus21 WoS21 Europe PMC7
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 Scopus14 WoS13 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 Scopus18 WoS15
2022 Stringham, O., Maher, J., Lassaline, C., Wood, L., Moncayo, S., Toomes, A., . . . Hill, K. (2022). The dark web trades wildlife, but mostly for use as drugs.
DOI

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

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