My research in the Smith lab focused on the relationship of suspension feeders to flow (and food supply) at an abyssal time-series station in the NE Pacific (Sta. M).  My dissertation involved three main projects: 1) evaluating the diversity and vertical zonation of organisms living on stalked organisms (esp. the glass sponge Hyalonema); 2) examining the near-bottom flow; and 3) characterizing the near-bottom, suspended particulate matter as well as the phytodetritus aggregated on the sea floor at the abyssal station. In order to collect the "stalk communities" (i.e. the sponge stalks and associated epizoites) and the phytodetritus from the sea floor at 4100 m depth, we used the submersible Alvin. I prepared a poster about my dissertation research for the 1999 DIALOG Symposium.