IMOS - Ships of Opportunity – Bioacoustics - Data from Sealord F.V. Janas in the Tasman Sea from the 9th 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 Sealord F.V. Janas (IMOS platform code: ZMTW).Departed: New Zealand, June 9, 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.

本生物声学数据集采集于2011年6月，依托集成海洋观测系统（Integrated Marine Observing System, IMOS）的机会船（Ship of Opportunity, SOOP）生物声学（Bio Acoustic, BA）计划，搭载于Sealord公司F.V. Janas号作业渔船（IMOS平台编号：ZMTW）。该船于2011年6月9日从新西兰启航，于2011年6月14日抵达澳大利亚霍巴特港。

生物声学信号可用于解析中层小型猎物物种的分布特征，这类物种统称为微自游生物（micronekton），包括小型鱼类、头足类、磷虾及水母。这类中层猎物是海洋食物网的核心环节，可将海洋表层初级生产者所固定的能量，传递至金枪鱼、旗鱼、鲨鱼、海豹与海鸟等顶级捕食者。

微自游生物的生物量与分布状况，能够反映海洋生态系统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数字回声测深仪的渔业及科研船只完成，该设备可记录深度达1500米的声学背散射剖面。