1 sections, one across the symmetry of the shelf and one looking up or 



2 down the canyon. 



3 Many of us talked about the axis and most of the reason for 



4 showing this is to try to say what kind of samples we have to 



5 characterize a canyon in these different environments. 



6 Most of the current measurements and most of the geological 



7 sampling has all been done along the axis, but a lot of the visual 



8 observations from submersibles and from [word unclear], sleds and things 



9 like that, have been done on the walls. 



10 Let me first define those environments. We have the axis. We 



11 have a large area which I have called the walls, which are referred to 



12 as being steep and blocky and in some places they are smooth, but a wall 



13 environment, and then rims where the canyon transitions from the shelf 



14 onto those walls. 



15 The point I want to make is that the axis, where many of our 



16 samples, geological samples, are taken are generally a fairly small part 



17 of the total area of the canyon. I think it is important to keep that 



18 in mind when we talk about effects on the canyons. 



19 What are we talking about? Are we talking about effects on the 



20 walls? Are we talking about effects on the axis? Are we talking about 



21 effects along the canyon rim? 



22 As John said, we heard a lot of--I have tried to phrase this 



23 summary in terms of questions. We have heard a lot of discussions that 



24 canyons are unique habitats or environments as compared to the slope, 



25 from the slope at comparable depths. 



26 I have tried to list both the biological features, the physical 



27 oceanographic features and the geological features which make that the 



28 case. I think it would be nice in the final report, following what Don 



29 said, to try to have a very simple layman's summary saying what these 



30 things--to enlarge on these. Maybe there is more than this list. 



31 I would like to have some discussion about what other things might 



32 be on this list, but I think that should be a centerpiece of the 



33 document, of the report from this workshop, what makes canyons unique, 



34 in a very simple way. 



175 



