IMOS - Ships of Opportunity – Bioacoustics - Data from Sealord FV Will Watch in the Indian Ocean from the 11th of February 2012 to the 17th of February 2012.

This Bio Acoustic data was collected in February 2012 under the IMOS Ship of Opportunity (SOOP) Bio Acoustic (BA) program on Sealord FV Will Watch (IMOS platform code: E5WW).Departed: Central Indian Ocean, February 11, 2012Arrived:     Central Indian Ocean, February 17, 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（Bio Acoustic）数据集采集于2012年2月，依托集成海洋观测系统（Integrated Marine Observing System, IMOS）机会船（Ship of Opportunity, SOOP）生物声学（Bio Acoustic, BA）计划，搭载于Sealord FV Will Watch号（IMOS平台代码：E5WW）。
起航：中印度洋，2012年2月11日
抵港：中印度洋，2012年2月17日
生物声学信号可用于解析中层水域猎物类群（统称为micronekton，即小型中层游泳生物）的分布特征，该类群涵盖小型鱼类、头足类、磷虾与水母等物种。中层水域猎物类群是海洋食物网的核心组分，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。小型中层游泳生物的生物量与分布格局，可反映海洋生态系统结构与功能的大尺度模式，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数字回声测深仪的渔业与科研船舶完成，该设备可记录1500米水深范围内的声学反向散射数据切片。