Simon Allen

Dr. Simon Allen is a Research Fellow at the School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, and co-director of the Shark Bay Dolphin Research Alliance. He earned a PhD from Murdoch University (2015) on dolphin abundance and bycatch in north-western Australia, preceded by an MSc (2005), BSc(Hons) (1996), and BSc (1994) from Macquarie University, University of Queensland, and Flinders University respectively.

• Research Focus: Assessing human impacts on marine megafauna, particularly coastal dolphin social/foraging behaviors and conservation management.
• Expertise: Drone-based aerial surveys, genetic connectivity studies, bycatch mitigation, and long-term ecological monitoring.

Recent Publications (2023-2024) emphasize:

• Epigenetic age estimation in dolphins
• Cooperative mating systems and vocalization
• Social play and reproductive success
• Population genetic responses to climate change
• Drone technology for detection probability

Grants & Awards include funding from the Sea World Research Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, and Australian Marine Mammal Centre, with a Best Conservation Presentation award from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (2013-2014).

Teaching Roles at UWA include:

• ANIM3353 - Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Management
• BIOL5504 - Sex in the Sea
• BIOL5594 - Field Course in Evolutionary Biology (UWA & University of Zurich)

Current Projects at www.sharkbaydolphins.org involve population viability analysis and UAV-based detection studies.