**About the Editor**

**Chiara Facca** obtained her Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Ecology at Ca' Foscari University of Venice (Italy) and at the University of Montpellier II (France) in 2003. She is a technical assistant at the Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics (DAIS), Ca' Foscari University of Venice (Italy). At DAIS, beyond academic activities with courses in Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Chemical Sciences for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage, the following main research topics are investigated: ecology, analytical and environmental chemistry, earth sciences, environmental risk assessment, chemistry for the restoration of cultural heritage, informatics, and statistics. Dr. Facca is mainly involved in the study related to the ecology of transitional and coastal waters. She specializes in the taxonomic identification of microalgae and in their use as ecological quality indicators. In the framework of the European Framework Water Directive (2000/60/EC), together with the Italian National Council of Research and the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, she implemented the Multimetric Phytoplankton Index, used to assess transitional water status in Italy and Greece. Her most recent research activities have been dedicated to trophic chain investigation, namely the study of the role of microalgae in the diet of some target fish species. She is also carrying out studies on nekton to observe reproductive behavior in different environmental conditions, simulating climate change scenarios. Moreover, she has been involved in the technical and administrative managemen<sup>t</sup> of European projects (i.e., the LIFE Programme).
