Dr. Richard A. Lutz studies the ecology of deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Since the first biological expedition to these unique ecosystems in 1979, Dr. Lutz has spent countless hours on the bottom exploring thermal vents throughout the world's oceans in a variety of deep-diving submersibles.
Observations made during the course of Dr. Lutz's ongoing studies in this unique "natural deep-sea laboratory" are dramatically altering our views of the rates at which many biological and geological processes are occurring on the face of the planet.
Publications:
O’Brien, C. E., D. Giovannelli, B. Govenar, G. W. Luther, R. A. Lutz, T. M. Shank, C. Vetriani. 2015. Microbial biofilms associated with fluid chemistry and megafaunal colonization at posteruptive deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Deep-Sea Research II: in press.
