IMOS - Ships of Opportunity – Bioacoustics - Data from Sealord F.V. Janas in the Southern Ocean from the 21th of August 2009 to the 25th of August 2009.

This Bio Acoustic data was collected in August 2009 under the IMOS Ship of Opportunity (SOOP) Bio Acoustic (BA) program on Sealord F.V. Janas (IMOS platform code: ZMTW).Departed: Southern Ocean, August 21, 2009Arrived:     Hobart, Australia, August 25, 2009Bio 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.

本生物声学数据集采集于2009年8月，依托综合海洋观测系统（Integrated Marine Observing System，IMOS）机遇航次船舶（Ship of Opportunity，SOOP）生物声学（Bio Acoustic，BA）项目，搭载于西洛斯号捕捞渔船（Sealord F.V. Janas，IMOS平台代码：ZMTW）。该航次于2009年8月21日从南大洋起航，同年8月25日抵达澳大利亚霍巴特。

生物声学信号可用于解析中层水域猎物物种的分布特征，这类物种统称为中层游泳生物（micronekton），涵盖小型鱼类、头足类、磷虾与水母等。中层游泳生物构成海洋食物网的核心环节，能够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。

中层游泳生物的生物量与分布特征，可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。本次声学测绘工作由配备经科学校准的38 kHz数字回声测深仪的捕捞渔船与科考船完成，该设备可记录深度达1500米的声学背散射信号切片。