IMOS - Ships of Opportunity – Bioacoustics - Data from Sealord FV Will Watch in the Indian Ocean from the 3rd of December 2011 to the 11th of December 2011.

This Bio Acoustic data was collected in December 2011 under the IMOS Ship of Opportunity (SOOP) Bio Acoustic (BA) program on Sealord FV Will Watch (IMOS platform code: E5WW).Departed: Central Indian Ocean, December 03, 2011Arrived:     Central Indian Ocean, December 11, 2011Bio 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.

本生物声学数据集于2011年12月采集自海洋综合观测系统（Integrated Marine Observing System, IMOS）的机遇船舶（Ship of Opportunity, SOOP）生物声学（Bio Acoustic, BA）项目，搭载平台为Sealord公司FV Will Watch号（IMOS平台编号：E5WW）。
起航地：中印度洋，2011年12月3日
抵达地：中印度洋，2011年12月11日
生物声学信号可用于解析中层水域猎物类群的分布特征，这类类群统称微游泳动物（micronekton），包括小型鱼类、头足类、磷虾与水母。中层小型游泳动物是海洋食物网的核心类群，可将海洋表层初级生产者固定的能量传递至金枪鱼、旗鱼、鲨鱼、海豹与海鸟等顶级捕食者。
微游泳动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。本次声学测绘由配备经科学校准的38 kHz数字回声测深仪的捕捞及科研船舶完成，该设备可记录1500米深度范围内的声学背散射数据切片。