Simons Collaboration on Ocean Processes and Ecology
The Simons Collaboration on Ocean Processes and Ecology (SCOPE) aims to advance our understanding of the biology, biogeochemistry, ecology and evolution of microbial processes at a representative ocean benchmark, Station ALOHA, located in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG) and at transition zones on the edges of the NPSG.
SCOPE studies the ocean ecosystem in situ, at multiple levels of biological organization (genetic, biochemical, physiological, biogeochemical and ecological), and at highly resolved, nested scales of space and time. The mission is to measure, model and predict the pathways and exchanges (inputs and outputs) of energy and matter within and between specific microbial groups and their environment at relevant spatial and temporal scales, from surface waters to the deep sea. The collaboration comprises a multidisciplinary team of investigators led by co-directors David Karl and E. Virginia (Ginger) Armbrust and a steering committee. SCOPE has two components: SCOPE-ALOHA, led by Karl, studies the NPSG near Station ALOHA, and SCOPE-Gradients, led by Armbrust, focuses on transition zones at the edges of the NPSG.
