Enzo Bertolo
Master in conservation
enzo.bertolo@unine.ch
enzo.bertolo@outlook.com
Interests
As a lifelong nature enthusiast, I developed a keen interest in wildlife management during my Bachelor’s degree at HEPIA. Today, I enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities, some of which have become my great passions. With a love of the field and practical experience, I aim to combine my personal interests with a professional career. I’m currently doing a Master’s degree in Biodiversity Conservation, and I’m looking forward to embarking on my thesis in order to acquire a wealth of knowledge and develop my network of contacts.
Research project
The impact of night-time lighting on wildlife is increasingly being studied, and its impact on the behaviour of species is being demonstrated. In Switzerland, more and more communes are turning off their lighting infrastructures at night, as is the case in Val-de-Ruz, in the canton of Neuchâtel. Under the supervision of Mr Sergio Rasmann and Mr Claude Fischer (HEPIA), the aim of my thesis is to analyze the impact of artificial night-time lighting on the territory occupation of the European hare. The aim is to observe and understand the spatio-temporal behaviour of hares in the Val-de-Ruz communes before, during and after switching on the commune’s lighting infrastructure. To achieve this, we plan to carry out direct nocturnal observations using lighthouse counts, as well as tracking hares equipped with GPS collars, which we will capture at the end of 2025. The latter method will also enable us to broaden our research into the species’ territory occupation by depending on the different environments, in particular hedgerows and agricultural land typology, as well as the distribution of biodiversity promotion areas (BPAs).
