Researchers are using various methods, including BONCAT-FACS and bioorthogonal non-canonical amino acid tagging, to study microbial ecosystems and ecology. These techniques are being applied to different environments, such as soil microbiomes, anoxic hydrothermal sediments, and the cystic fibrosis lung microbiota. The studies aim to understand microbial community responses, translationally active subpopulations, and the ecological and biogeochemical importance of microbial interactions.