IMOS - Ships of Opportunity – Bioacoustics - Data from Austral Fisheries FV Southern Champion in the Indian Ocean from the 19th of January 2010 to the 24th of January 2010.

This Bio Acoustic data was collected in January 2010 under the IMOS Ship of Opportunity (SOOP) Bio Acoustic (BA) program on Austral Fisheries FV Southern Champion (IMOS platform code: VHGI).Departed: Australia, January 19, 2010Arrived:      Australia, January 24, 2010Bio 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2010年1月，依托集成海洋观测系统（Integrated Marine Observing System, IMOS）的机遇船舶（Ship of Opportunity, SOOP）生物声学（Bio Acoustic, BA）项目，由澳大利亚渔业公司（Austral Fisheries）的“Southern Champion”号渔船执行（IMOS平台代码：VHGI）。
出发地：澳大利亚，2010年1月19日
抵达地：澳大利亚，2010年1月24日
生物声学信号可用于解析中层水域猎物类群（统称为微型游泳生物（micronekton））的分布格局，该类群涵盖小型鱼类、头足类、磷虾及水母。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、海豹及海鸟等顶级捕食者。
微型游泳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大尺度格局，以及海洋生态系统的动态变化过程。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船与科研船完成，该设备可记录深度达1500米的声学后向散射信号切片。