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).\n\nDeparted: Australia, September 4, 2011\nArrived: \t Australia, September 11, 2011\n\nBio acoustic signals allow understanding how mid-water prey species (known collectively as micronekton) such as small fish, squid, krill and jellyfish are distributed. \n\nMid-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. \n\nAcoustic 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（Bio Acoustic data）采集于2011年9月，依托澳大利亚海洋综合观测系统（IMOS）船舶机遇计划（Ship of Opportunity, SOOP）生物声学（Bio Acoustic, BA）项目，由Austral渔业公司运营的FV Austral Leader II号作业船完成数据采集（IMOS平台代码：VHLU）。

起航：澳大利亚，2011年9月4日
抵达：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的分布特征，该类群统称为小型中层浮游生物（micronekton），涵盖小型鱼类、头足类、磷虾与水母等物种。

中层猎物构成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。

小型中层浮游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大尺度特征，同时亦可体现海洋生态系统的动态变化规律。

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船与科考船开展，该设备可记录至1500米水深的声学反向散射剖面数据。