dr. Irena Bertoncelj

PhD, MSc Biology Department of Agricultural Ecology and Natural Resources ecology of agricultural ecosystems, management impact on biodiversity Researchers +386 (0)1 280 52 19 irena.bertoncelj@kis.si

Collaboration on projects

International projects:

  • EC, Interreg Adrion: Transboundary ecological connectivity of Alps and Dinari Mountains (DINALPCONNECT; https://dinalpconnect.adrioninterreg.eu/):
  • EC, Interreg Alpine Space: Linking urban and rural green infrastructure to support the provision of multifunctional ecosystem services in the Alps (LUIGI);
  • EC, Interreg Alpine Space project: Integrative Alpine wildlife and habitat management for the next generation (ALPBIONET2030);
  • EC, LIFE project: Conservation of Natura 2000 sites Kočevsko (LIFE Kočevsko);
  • European Science Foundation (Research Networking Programme) Research and monitoring for and with raptors in Europe (EURAPMON);
  • EC, LIFE+ project:  Conservation and surveillance of the conservation status of the wolf (Canis lupus) population in Slovenia (SLOWOLF).

Projects in Slovenia:

  • Initial expertise for monitoring of selected above- and underground organisms in agricultural landscapes for evaluation of agri-environment scheme effectiveness (CRP V4-2221)
  • Establishment of a reference agricultural holdings system for the purpose of permanent monitoring of indicators of sustainable agriculture (CRP V4-1813)
  • Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and increased carbon sequestration in agricultural soil using minimum tillage (CRP V4-2022)
  • Analysis of the agricultural landscape and identification and evaluation of ecosystem services in selected areas of the Triglav National Park.
  • Analysis of farmland structure and participation of farmers within Triglav National Park in agri-environment schemes of the Common Agricultural Policy.
  • Use of relief coefficient for identification of potential areas of hummocky meadows based on LiDAR images in Triglav National Park.

Short CV

My basic training is in Biology having obtained a BSc at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia and a PhD in Ecology at the University of East Anglia in the UK. I have been an active researcher in Slovenia since 2008 working at different organisations:

  • National Institute of Biology (2008 - 2013);
  • University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty (2013 - 2015);
  • Slovenia Forest Service (2015 - 2017) and
  • Agricultural Institute of Slovenia (2017 – present).

I am interested in all topics related to nature conservation ranging from ecology, population dynamics and their monitoring to ecosystem services. For successful conservation it is of course necessary to obtain cooperation of local stakeholders and wider public. I work on projects which combine all these issues in order to reach conservation goals.

Scientific area and expert work

  • Ecology of agro-ecosystems
  • Effects of management on biodiversity
  • Ecosystem connectivity and effects of fragmentation on animal populations
  • Spatial and temporal dynamics of populations and their monitoring
  • Ecosystem services

Selected publications

FAVILLI, Filippo, LANER, Peter, BERTONCELJ, Irena. Application of the continuum suitability index (CSI) model to display the permeability of the alpine-dinaric landscape and to define intervention priorities for ecological linkages. Biodiversity and conservation. 2023, vol. 32, iss. 10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-023-02651-6.

GAZOULIS, Ioannis, ANTONOPOULOS, Nikolaos, KANATAS, Panagiotis, KARAVAS, Nikolas, BERTONCELJ, Irena, TRAVLOS, Ilias S. Invasive alien plant species-raising awareness of a threat to biodiversity and ecological connectivity (EC) in the Adriatic-Ionian region. Diversity. 2022, vol. 14, iss. 5, DOI: 10.3390/d14050387.

Co-editor of the online book: BERTONCELJ, Irena (editor, photographer), BELE, Sara (editor), KOŽAR, Maja (editor). Methodology proposal for the systematic monitoring of indicators for the evaluation of sustainable agriculture at the level of agricultural holdings. Ljubljana: Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, 2022.

DERLINK, Maja, WERNHAM, Chris, BERTONCELJ, Irena, KOVÁCS, András, SAUROLA, Pertti, DUKE, Guy, MOVALLI, Paola, VREZEC, Al. A review of raptor and owl monitoring activity across Europe : its implications for capacity building towards pan-European monitoring. V: VREZEC, Al (ur.), WERNHAM, Chris (ur.). Proceedings of the final EURAPMON conference. [S. l.]: Bird study, Vol. 65, iss. S1, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1080/00063657.2018.1447546.

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