Marcos Callisto is a full Professor of Ecology at the Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. He received hisPh.D, from the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Callisto's research interests include ecology of headwater streams, freshwater biodiversity conservation, leaf litter decomposition, biomonitoring, environmental education, and ecological assessment. Callisto is on an Editorial Board for a renowned journal, has published over 100 papers in international journals, 46 book chapters and has been an editor on five books.

Franco Teixeira de Mello is a Professor of Ecology and Environmental Management at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Management, Centro Universitario Regional del Este, Universidad de la República, Uruguay. He received his Ph.D. fromthe Universidad de la República, Uruguay. His research interests include stream ecology, fresh water fishes, biomonitoring, and leaf litter decomposition. Teixeira de Mello is an editor on three journals, published 54 paper in international journals, authored two books, edited another, and has contributed to 17 book chapters.

Douglas Rodríguez Olarte is a full Professor of Ecology at the Department of Biology, Agronomy Faculty, Universidad Centro Occidental Lisandro Alvarado. He received his Ph.D. from the University Complutense of Madrid, Spain. His research interests include biogeography, integrity, biomonitoring and conservation of freshwater fishes and rivers, and fish and aquatic ecology. Olarte has published 35 paper in international journals and authored one book, edited another, and has contributed to 25 book chapters.