IMOS - Ships of Opportunity – Bioacoustics - Data from Australian Wild Tuna's Santo Rocco in the Pacific Ocean from the 26th of April 2012 to the 28th of April 2012.

This Bio Acoustic data was collected in April 2012 under the IMOS Ship of Opportunity (SOOP) Bio Acoustic (BA) program on Australian Wild Tuna's Santo Rocca (IMOS platform code: LFB13191P).Departed: Australia, April 26, 2012Arrived:      Australia, April 28, 2012Bio 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.

本生物声学数据采集于2012年4月，依托澳大利亚海洋综合观测系统（Integrated Marine Observing System, IMOS）“机会航船（Ship of Opportunity, SOOP）生物声学（Bio Acoustic, BA）”项目，搭载于澳大利亚野生金枪鱼公司“Santo Rocca”号（IMOS平台编码：LFB13191P）科考船。
启航：澳大利亚，2012年4月26日
抵港：澳大利亚，2012年4月28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））的分布特征，这类类群包括小型鱼类、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特征，能够反映海洋生态系统结构与功能的宏观格局，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数字回声测深仪的渔业与科研船舶完成，该设备可记录深度达1500米的声学背散射信号切片。