IMOS - Ships of Opportunity – Bioacoustics - Data from Sealord F.V. Janas in the Tasman Sea from the 19th of April 2012 to the 25th of April 2012.

This Bio Acoustic data was collected in April 2012 under the IMOS Ship of Opportunity (SOOP) Bio Acoustic (BA) program on Sealord F.V. Janas (IMOS platform code: ZMTW).Departed: New Zealand, Australia, April 19, 2011Arrived:     Australia, April 25, 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（Bio Acoustic）数据集采集于2012年4月，依托于海洋集成观测系统（Integrated Marine Observing System, IMOS）机遇船舶计划（Ship of Opportunity, SOOP）下的生物声学（Bio Acoustic, BA）项目，搭载于西洛德F.V. Janas号捕捞渔船（IMOS平台代码：ZMTW）。
启航：2011年4月19日从新西兰出发前往澳大利亚，于2011年4月25日抵达澳大利亚。

生物声学信号可用于解析中层微型游泳生物（micronekton，即统称的中层猎物物种）的分布格局，这类生物涵盖小型鱼类、头足类、磷虾及水母等。

中层猎物构成海洋食物网的核心枢纽，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、海豹及海鸟等顶级捕食者。

中层微型游泳生物的生物量与分布状况，能够反映海洋结构与功能的宏观格局，同时也可体现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数字回声测深仪的捕捞及科研船舶完成，该设备可记录1500米水深范围内的声学后向散射信号切片。