Kodiak's numerous shallow bays and fjords make good nurseries because they offer advantages that increase the fishes' odds of survival. The feeding is good and the bays around the island offer important protection from predation because in these shallow areas you're less likely to find the bigger fish are going to feed on them. It's safer because the small fish aren't not getting munched on. Juvenile flatfish also are able to change color, which helps them hide from predators and it also helps scientists like Norcross figure out what the sea floor is like without having to actually send down cameras or a diver to take a look. I can learn a lot about the bottom by pulling the fish up because the fish aren't the same color on all bottoms.
Fish change color patterns to go with the bottom they're on.
They get really brilliant colors and very mottled when they're on a bottom that has tiny broken pieces of shell. Norcross believes her studies on juvenile flatfish are crucial to protect these flatfish nurseries from development that in turn could harm Alaska's thriving commercial and sport fisheries. The Gulf of Alaska is unique because it supports 12 species of flatfishes. There has to be something very special about it. I'm trying to find out what makes it unique.