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Hire Shawn D.

India

USD 80 /hr

Behavioural Ecologist with expertise in Data Analysis, Scientific Writing & Research Consulting

Profile Summary

I am a behavioural ecologist with 8 years of research experience investigating how anthropogenic disturbance alters animal behaviour, trophic interactions, and ecosystem functioning. My work integrates meta-analysis, causal inference, agent-based models, and field experiments to quantify behavioural change and its ecological consequences. I have a strong publication record, experience leading interdisciplinary projects, and a proven ability to tackle complex ecological questions.

Subject Matter Expertise

• ☆ Zoology
• ☆ Animal Science
• ☆ Animal Behavior/Ethology
• ☆ Data Analysis
• ☆ Ecology
• ☆ Applied Ecology
• ☆ R

Services

• Writing
• Research
• Consulting
• Data & AI
• Product Development

Writing Technical Writing, Copywriting, Creative Writing, Newswriting

Research Meta-Research, Fact Checking, Scientific and Technical Research

Consulting Scientific and Technical Consulting

Data & AI Predictive Modeling, Statistical Analysis, Data Visualization

Product Development Quality Assurance & Control (QA/QC)

Work Experience

Ph.D. Student

Indian Institute of Science

February 2021 - Present

Research Assistant

Dakshin Foundation

January 2018 - February 2021

Intern - Sea Snake Project

Dakshin Foundation

May 2017 - December 2017

Field/Lab Assistant

Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra

September 2016 - October 2016

Expert

Sprouts Environment Trust/ BEIPL

February 2016 - June 2016

Field Assistant

MES Abasaheb Garware College

May 2016 - May 2016

Education

M.Sc. (Biodiversity)

MES Abasaheb Garware College

July 2015 - May 2017

B.Sc. (Zoology)

SIES College of Arts Science and Commerce

June 2012 - May 2015

Certifications

• Certification details not provided.

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Patre, M.V., Bora, G., Jakhete, S., Dsouza, S., Shanker, K.(2026). Microplastic accumulation in marine organisms across trophic levels along the west coast of India . Marine Pollution Bulletin. 222.

Patre, M.V., Bora, G., Jakhete, S., Dsouza, S., Shanker, K.(2026). Microplastic accumulation in marine organisms across trophic levels along the west coast of India . Marine Pollution Bulletin. 222.

Shawn Dsouza, Kartik Shanker, Maria Thaker (2025). Are Human Super‐Predators Always Super‐Scary? A Meta‐Analysis of Wild Animal Behavioural Responses to Human Interactions . Ecology Letters.

Ruidas, H., Bora, G., Dsouza, S., Shanker, K.(2025). Assessing the impact of microplastics on gonadal health of the spadenose shark (Scoliodon laticaudus) on the west coast of India . Marine Pollution Bulletin. 212.

Ruidas, H., Bora, G., Dsouza, S., Shanker, K.(2025). Assessing the impact of microplastics on gonadal health of the spadenose shark (Scoliodon laticaudus) on the west coast of India . Marine Pollution Bulletin. 212.

Bora, G., Dsouza, S., Shanker, K.(2024). Diet composition and variation in four commonly landed and threatened shark species in Maharashtra, India . Regional Studies in Marine Science. 74.

Bora, G., Dsouza, S., Shanker, K.(2024). Diet composition and variation in four commonly landed and threatened shark species in Maharashtra, India . Regional Studies in Marine Science. 74.

Dsouza, S., Padhye, A.(2022). A cross-taxonomic comparison of bird and butterfly communities of Tamhini Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra, India, spanning two decades . Current Science. 123. (10). p. 1253-1258.

Dsouza, S., Padhye, A.(2022). A cross-taxonomic comparison of bird and butterfly communities of Tamhini Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra, India, spanning two decades . Current Science. 123. (10). p. 1253-1258.

Shawn Dsouza, Chetan Rao(2021). Demographics and reproductive biology of Hydrophis schistosus may make it more resilient to bycatch effects than other sea snakes . Regional Studies in Marine Science. 47. p. 101948. Elsevier {BV}

Shawn Dsouza, Chetan Rao, Trisha Gupta, Muralidharan Manoharakrishnan, Aaron Savio Lobo(2021). Fisheries induced shift in sea snake community assemblages along the Konkan coast, India . Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 31. (9). p. 2402--2411. Wiley

Shawn Dsouza, Chetan Rao, Muralidharan Manoharakrishnan, Kartik Shanker(2021). Resource use and the impacts of fisheries on two sympatric sea snake species on the west coast of India . Marine Biology. 168. (9). Springer Science and Business Media {LLC}

Dsouza, S., Rao, C.(2021). Demographics and reproductive biology of Hydrophis schistosus may make it more resilient to bycatch effects than other sea snakes . Regional Studies in Marine Science. 47.

Dsouza, S., Rao, C.(2021). Demographics and reproductive biology of Hydrophis schistosus may make it more resilient to bycatch effects than other sea snakes . Regional Studies in Marine Science. 47.

Dsouza, S., Rao, C., Manoharakrishnan, M., Shanker, K.(2021). Resource use and the impacts of fisheries on two sympatric sea snake species on the west coast of India . Marine Biology. 168. (9).

Dsouza, S., Rao, C., Manoharakrishnan, M., Shanker, K.(2021). Resource use and the impacts of fisheries on two sympatric sea snake species on the west coast of India . Marine Biology. 168. (9).

Rao, C., Dsouza, S., Gupta, T., Manoharakrishnan, M., Lobo, A.S.(2021). Fisheries induced shift in sea snake community assemblages along the Konkan coast, India . Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 31. (9). p. 2402-2411.

Rao, C., Dsouza, S., Gupta, T., Manoharakrishnan, M., Lobo, A.S.(2021). Fisheries induced shift in sea snake community assemblages along the Konkan coast, India . Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 31. (9). p. 2402-2411.

PREPRINT

Shawn Dsouza, Akshta Joshi, Maria Thaker, Kartik Shanker (2025). Out of sight, out of mind: Removal of predators by fisheries alters reef fish behaviour .

Shawn Dsouza, Akshta Joshi, Bharat Ahuja, Samar Ahmad, Kartik Shanker (2025). Local extraction of predatory fish may initiate behaviourally mediated trophic cascades in coral reefs in the Andaman Islands .

Shawn Dsouza, Kartik Shanker, Maria Thaker (2024). Are human super-predators always super-scary? A meta-analysis of wild animal behavioural responses to human interactions .

Shawn Dsouza, Chetan Rao, Muralidharan Manoharakrishnan, Kartik Shanker (2021). Resource use and the impacts of fisheries on two sympatric sea snake species on the West Coast of India .

OTHER

Dsouza, S., Shanker, K., Thaker, M.(2024). Are human super-predators always super-scary? A meta-analysis of wild animal behavioural responses to human interactions . Biorxiv.

Dsouza, S., Shanker, K., Thaker, M.(2024). Are human super-predators always super-scary? A meta-analysis of wild animal behavioural responses to human interactions . Biorxiv.

Ruidas, H., Bora, G., Dsouza, S., Shanker, K.(2024). Effects of Microplastic Pollution on the Reproductive Organs of the Spadenose Shark, Scoliodon Laticaudus, in Malvan, India . Ssrn.

Ruidas, H., Bora, G., Dsouza, S., Shanker, K.(2024). Effects of Microplastic Pollution on the Reproductive Organs of the Spadenose Shark, Scoliodon Laticaudus, in Malvan, India . Ssrn.

Dsouza, S., Padhye, A.(2022). A cross taxonomic comparison of bird and butterfly communities of Tamhini Wildlife Sanctuary across two decades . Biorxiv.

Dsouza, S., Padhye, A.(2022). A cross taxonomic comparison of bird and butterfly communities of Tamhini Wildlife Sanctuary across two decades . Biorxiv.

REPORT

Dsouza, Shawn and {Chetan Rao} and {Muralidharan Manoharakrishnan}(2019). DOES FISHING PRESSURE AFFECT THE FEEDING ECOLOGY OF SEA SNAKES? . Dakshin Foundation. Dakshin Foundation

{Chetan Rao} and Gupta, Trisha and Dsouza, Shawn and {Muralidharan Manoharakrishnan}(2017). Effect of fishing practices on species assemblages of sea snakes off the Sindhudurg coast of Maharashtra, India . Dakshin Foundation. Dakshin Foundation

CONFERENCE POSTER

(2017). How has Tamhini Ghat changed? Comparing butterfly populations in a threatened landscape after two decades . Young Ecologist Talk and Interact.