IMOS - Ships of Opportunity – Bioacoustics - Data from RV Southern Surveyor in the Tasman Sea from the 7th of June 2011 to the 14th of June 2011

This Bio Acoustic data was collected in June 2011 under the IMOS Ship of Opportunity (SOOP) Bio Acoustic (BA) program on RV Southern Surveyor (IMOS platform code: VLHJ).Departed: Auckland, New Zealand, June 7, 2011Arrived:     Hobart, Australia, June 14, 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6月，依托综合海洋观测系统（Integrated Marine Observing System，IMOS）的“机遇之船（Ship of Opportunity, SOOP）生物声学（Bio Acoustic, BA）”项目，在“南方考察号”科考船（RV Southern Surveyor，IMOS平台代码：VLHJ）上采集完成。
起航：新西兰奥克兰，2011年6月7日
抵靠：澳大利亚霍巴特，2011年6月14日

生物声学信号可用于解析中层捕食类群（统称微小型游泳生物，micronekton）的分布格局，该类群涵盖小型鱼类、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组分，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、海豹及海鸟等顶级捕食者。

微小型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大尺度变化模式，以及海洋生态系统的动态过程。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及科考船完成，该设备可记录深度达1500米的水体声学背散射信号切片。