Monika Puchlik wins NCN MINIATURA 10 grant for forest research

Dr. Monika Puchlik from the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences at Białystok University of Technology has been named a winner of the NCN MINIATURA 10 competition organized by the National Science Centre.

The grant, totaling 47,850 PLN, will fund a pilot research project titled “The impact of hydrological drought on retention and biogen transport in natural forest catchments of north-eastern Poland – pilot studies in the Łutownia river catchment (Białowieża Forest).”

Dr. Puchlik’s research focuses on analyzing how hydrological droughts affect forest-river ecosystems. By studying the Łutownia river catchment, which is characterized by low anthropogenic pressure, the project aims to track the circulation of biogens such as nitrogen and phosphorus. The study will utilize water sampling and hydrological measurements via piezometers to assess seasonal dynamics and the role of wetlands as natural buffer zones. The results are intended to help determine forest resilience to climate change.