IMOS BA SOOP - Bio Acoustic Data from Austral Fisheries FV Austral Leader II in the Indian Ocean from the 4th of September 2011 to the 11th of September 2011.

This Bio Acoustic data was collected in September 2011 under the IMOS Ship of Opportunity (SOOP) Bio Acoustic (BA) program on Austral Fisheries FV Austral Leader II (IMOS platform code: VHLU).

Departed: Australia, September 4, 2011
Arrived: Australia, September 11, 2011

Bio acoustic signals allow understanding how mid-water prey species (known collectively as micronekton) such as small fish, squid, krill and jellyfish are distributed.

Mid-water prey form the core of the ocean food web, transferring energy from primary producers at the ocean surface to top predators such as tunas, billfish, sharks, seals and seabirds.The mass and distribution of micronekton reflects broad-scale patterns in the structure and function of the ocean, as well as the dynamics of marine ecosystems.

Acoustic mapping is done from fishing and scientific vessels that are equipped with scientifically-calibrated 38 kHz digital echo-sounders that record a slice of acoustic backscatter to a depth of 1500 meters.

本生物声学（Bio Acoustic）数据集于2011年9月，依托澳大利亚综合海洋观测系统（Integrated Marine Observing System, IMOS）机会船（Ship of Opportunity, SOOP）生物声学（Bio Acoustic, BA）项目，在澳大利亚渔业公司（Austral Fisheries）的“南方领袖二号”号捕捞船（Austral Leader II，IMOS平台代码：VHLU）上采集完成。
起航：澳大利亚，2011年9月4日
抵港：澳大利亚，2011年9月11日

生物声学信号可用于解析中层水域猎物类群（统称为小型中层游泳生物，micronekton）的分布格局，该类群包括小型鱼类、头足类、磷虾与水母等。

中层水域猎物类群是海洋食物网的核心环节，可将能量从海洋表层的初级生产者传递至金枪鱼、旗鱼、鲨鱼、海豹与海鸟等顶级捕食者。小型中层游泳生物的生物量与分布格局，能够反映海洋生态系统结构与功能的宏观模式，以及海洋生态系统的动态变化过程。

声学测绘工作由配备经过科学校准的38 kHz数字回声测深仪的捕捞船与科考船完成，该设备可记录深度达1500米的水体声学背散射信号切片。