One of my favorite streams for the past 30 years or so is The Henry's Fork, particularly The Ranch section.
In the latest newsletter from the Foundation there contains an article about the new sampling project underway concerning aquatic insects. It is extremely important as it correlates to the health of the stream and its support for the trout population.
In prior years, samples of insects were drawn and then hand sorted and counted....an expensive, labor intensive method. Now, they have collected the DNA of the insect population.
So, now, they can collect large sized insect populations and have them ground up and analyzed in terms of matching known DNA data to provide much cheaper information on the variety and concentration of the insect populations.
I think I can provide a link to their more in-depth explanation of the process should anyone want that information.
Science is amazing!
I think if you go to Henrysfork.org
And then click on the "latest news"you will get the article on their blog.