Product Description
Presents the key practices of all Agile development approaches, offers overviews of specific techniques, and show how you can choose the approach that best suits your organization. Softcover. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Good survey and overview
If you want to get an overview of the Agile movement and all its offshoots,this is a good book for you.If you want to dig deeper, you should probably read something else.

Great Intro to Agile
Jim Highsmith does an excellent job of introducing you to the agile software philosophy. This book includes the basic motivation for agility in the software arena, the foundational philosophies of agile, a review of the top 7 agile approaches being used today (XP, Scrum, DSDM, FDD, ASD, LD, and Crystal), interviews with the leading proponents, and a comparison of Agile versus a more rigorous process-oriented approach.

If you are new to Agile approaches or just looking to fine-tune your current software methodology, this book is an excellent start.

It's amazing what stuff gets published...
A group of us where we work were going through this book together. We were hoping for a good introduction to the various agile processes, or "ecosystems" as the book suggests. What we found was that the book is very disorganized and greatly lacking in detail. For a book that clocks in at almost 450 pages, it was mostly fluff. There was quite a bit of convincing that the author was trying to do, but did not provide much detail as to the "how to" part.

Most of the first set of chapters was like that. The next section covered interviews with various folks who are involved with actually developing and/or using ASDE's. When we started going through those chapters, it improved some, but still kept repeating the same stuff in the first section of chapters. Ok, ok, we get it. ASDE's are the best thing since sliced bread. Let's move onto the actualy detail already?

So we gave up on the interviews and skipped ahead to the end of the book where it talks about the various ASDE's. Unfortunately, it was more of the same. The chapter on Crystal was a joke. It said pretty much nothing.

My suggestion: don't buy this book. It's a waste of your money or your company's money.

Not bad, but read this second :)
I found the book a good read, but feel that for trying to "show people the light", it gives sceptics a bit too much ammunition.Craig Larman's "Agile and Iterative Development: A Manager's Guide" is better written, of more immediate practical value and more likely to win over the sceptics.Try Larman's book first, then this one for further perspectives...

Good first introduction to Agile methods
If you're new to Agile methods, this is a great place to start. The overviews and perspectives brought by the interviews provide an excellent introduction. The most useful thing in the book is the section near the end with a discussion of how to shape your own Agile methodology -- it's short, but a really useful set of practical steps.

Unfortunately, the interviews drag on a little bit and also start to feel a little bit repetitive. One or two of the high-level overviews are *so* high-level that you come out of them wondering what a concrete picture of it really looks like, especially since, if you go high enough, several of the approaches start to look the same. ... Read more

Product Description
Plantation forests often have a negative image. They are typically assumed to be poor substitutes for natural forests, particularly in terms of biodiversity conservation, carbon storage, provision of clean drinking water and other non-timber goods and services. Often they are monocultures that do not appear to invite people for recreation and other direct uses. Yet as this book clearly shows, they can play a vital role in the provision of ecosystem services, when compared to agriculture and other forms of land use or when natural forests have been degraded.

This is the first book to examine explicitly the non-timber goods and services provided by plantation forests, including soil, water and biodiversity conservation, as well as carbon sequestration and the provision of local livelihoods. The authors show that, if we require a higher provision of ecosystem goods and services from both temperate and tropical plantations, new approaches to their management are required. These include policies, methods for valuing the services, the practices of small landholders, landscape approaches to optimise delivery of goods and services, and technical issues about how to achieve suitable solutions at the scale of forest stands. While providing original theoretical insights, the book also gives guidance for plantation managers, policy-makers, conservation practitioners and community advocates, who seek to promote or strengthen the multiple-use of forest plantations for improved benefits for society. ... Read more

Product Description

Humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively in the last 50 years than in any comparable period of human history. We have done this to meet the growing demands for food, fresh water, timber, fiber, and fuel. While changes to ecosystems have enhanced the well-being of billions of people, they have also caused a substantial and largely irreversible loss in diversity of life on Earth, and have strained the capacity of ecosystems to continue providing critical services.

Among the findings:

Approximately 60% of the services that support life on Earth are being degraded or used unsustainably. The harmful consequences of this degradation could grow significantly worse in the next 50 years.

Only four ecosystem services have been enhanced in the last 50 years: crops, livestock, aquaculture, and the sequestration of carbon.

The capacity of ecosystems to neutralize pollutants, protect us from natural disasters, and control the outbreaks of pests and diseases is declining significantly.

Terrestrial and freshwater systems are reaching the limits of their ability to absorb nitrogen.

Harvesting of fish and other resources from coastal and marine systems is compromising their ability to deliver food in the future.

Richly illustrated with maps and graphs, Current State and Trends presents an assessment of Earth's ability to provide twenty-four distinct services essential to human well-being. These include food, fiber, and other materials; the regulation of the climate and fresh water systems; underlying support systems such as nutrient cycling; and the fulfillment of cultural, spiritual, and aesthetic values. The volume pays particular attention to the current health of key ecosystems, including inland waters, forests, oceans, croplands, and dryland systems, among others. It will be an indispensable reference for scientists, environmentalists, agency professionals, and students.

Customer Reviews (1)

free to download
You can download this for free from their web site - crazy to buy it. ... Read more

Product Description
Students of nature around the world revere Eugene Odum asa founder and pioneer of ecosystem ecology. In this biography of Odum,Betty Jean Craige depicts the intellectual growth, creativity, andvision of the scientist who made the ecosystem concept central to hisdiscipline and translated the principles of ecosystem ecology intolessons in preserving the natural environment.

Placing Odum's achievements in historical context, Craige traces his life from his childhood through his education, his collaboration with his brother Howard T. Odum in developing methods to study ecosystems, his contributions to the field of radiation ecology, his emergence as an internationally distinguished educator of ecosystem ecology, and his environmental activism. Craige also describes Odum's role in the creation of the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, the Marine Institute on Sapelo Island, and the Institute of Ecology at the University of Georgia, where he became identified with the statement "The ecosystem is greater than the sum of its parts."

Odum's textbook Fundamentals of Ecology is a classic, published innumerous editions and translations worldwide. Odum achieved membershipin the National Academy of Sciences, shared with his brother theprestigious Crafoord Prize for Ecology, accepted six honorarydoctorates, and received numerous awards for environmental activities. ... Read more

Product Description
How does a barrel cactus find enough water to grow in a desert? How do jackrabbits, snakes, and fringe toed lizards beat the heat? Quench your thirst inside this book, and find out what makes deserts one of Earths treasures. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Library Essential
A must have for any preschool/elementary school library.
Includes suggested activity, glossary, and "To Learn More" section. Get the whole ecosystem series!
... Read more

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What is the difference between a savanna and a prairie? How do bison, zebras, and other grazers avoid hungry grassland predators? Trek across the plant covered landscape of this book, and find out what makes grasslands one of Earth's treasures. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Library Essential
A must have for any preschool/elementary school library.
Includes suggested activity, glossary, and "To Learn More" section. Get the whole ecosystem series!
... Read more

Product Description
The quality of ecosystems is affected by the actions of different stakeholders who use them in a variety of ways. In order to understand this complex relationship between humans and nature, it is vital to understand the complexity of the interacting agents. The authors in this book attempt to do this by applying multi-agent systems to the problems of ecosystem management.

The multi-agent approach to ecosystem management is a relatively new and rapidly developing field which takes a formal computational approach towards the interaction of humans with their environment. The authors highlight some of the promising new methodologies which are emerging in the field from disciplines such as computer science and computational social science. They move on to address a number of important topics including diffusion processes, common-pool resources, land use change and the participatory use of models, in an attempt to solve contemporary management issues. They clearly demonstrate the potential utility of multi-agent systems in the context of theoretical problems and practical case studies.

This book provides a state-of-the-art review of the theory and application of multi-agent systems for ecosystem management. It will prove indispensable for ecological economists, natural resource and social scientists, and policymakers. It will also appeal to students and scholars who are interested in modeling the human dimensions of global environmental change. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A scholarly, college-level collection of learned articles
Compiled and edited by Marco A. Janssen (Associate Research Scientist, Center for the Study of Institutions, Population, and Environmental Change, Indian University - Bloomington), Complexity And Ecosystem Management: The Theory and Practice Of Multi-Agent Systems is a scholarly, college-level collection of learned articles and essays from an extensive roster of experts focusing on a "multi-agent" approach to the complex field of ecosystem management. Theory, application, graphical and mathematical models fill the pages of this solid, scientific, scholarly resource which is a very highly recommended, core addition to professional, governmental, and academic Environmental Studies reference collections. ... Read more

Product Description
This text examines the impact of climate change on freshwater ecosystems, past, present and future. It especially considers the interactions between climate change and other drivers of change including hydromorphological modification, nutrient loading, acid deposition and contamination by toxic substances using evidence from palaeolimnology, time-series analysis, space-for-time substitution, laboratory and field experiments and process modelling. The book evaluates these processes in relation to extreme events, seasonal changes in ecosystems, trends over decadal-scale time periods, mitigation strategies and ecosystem recovery.

The book is also concerned with how aspects of hydrophysical, hydrochemical and ecological change can be used as early indicators of climate change in aquatic ecosystems and it addresses the implications of future climate change for freshwater ecosystem management at the catchment scale.

This is an ideal book for the scientific research community, but is also accessible to Masters and senior undergraduate students. ... Read more

Product Description

Our Human Planet summarizes the findings of the four working groups and serves as a reference guide to the four main volumes in the MA series. It presents the key findings of each of the working groups, and meets the needs of policy makers and other professionals.

The summary also provides an overview of the framework used by the assessment, and will serve as a guide for assessment, planning, and management for the future.

Customer Reviews (1)

A guide to make sustainable decisions
Everyone who is interested in the environment or is responsible for any project that will cause any possible impact in the environment or human health, must consult this MEA as a guideline. It is today's human well-being compass. ... Read more

Product Description

Recent decades have been marked by the decline or collapse of one fishery after another around the world, from swordfish in the North Atlantic to orange roughy in the South Pacific. While the effects of a collapse on local economies and fishing-dependent communities have generated much discussion, little attention has been paid to its impacts on the overall health of the ocean's ecosystems.

In a Perfect Ocean: The State of Fisheries and Ecosystems in the North Atlantic Ocean presents the first empirical assessment of the status of ecosystems in the North Atlantic ocean. Drawing on a wide range of studies including original research conducted for this volume, the authors analyze 14 large marine ecosystems to provide an indisputable picture of an ocean whose ecology has been dramatically altered, resulting in a phenomenon described by the authors as "fishing down the food web." The book:

• provides a snapshot of the past health of the North Atlantic and compares it to its present status
• presents a rigorous scientific assessment based on the key criteria of fisheries catches, biomass, and trophic level
• considers the factors that have led to the current situation
• describes the policy options available for halting the decline
• offers recommendations for restoring the North Atlantic

This is the first in a series of assessments by the world's leading marine scientists, entitled "In a Perfect Ocean." The State of Fisheries and Ecosystems in the North Atlantic Ocean is a landmark study, the first of its kind to make a comprehensive, ecosystem-based assessment of the North Atlantic Ocean, and will be essential reading for policymakers at the state, national, and international level concerned with fisheries management, as well for scientists, researchers, and activists concerned with marine issues or fishing and the fisheries industry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Comprehensive Report on the Sad Condition of the No. Atlantic Fisheries
This is a Pew Foundation funded comprehensive, scientific, data based report on the state ofthe North Atlantic Ocean fisheries. It takes in not only a consensus on the various fish types and their depleted numbers, but also ocean ecology damage effectingspawning areas, over-fishing by type methods and too many boats, disparities in derived fish protein gained vs energy spent to harvest, pollution, negative effects ofgovernment subsidies, boat buy-back and destruction schemes to reduce the size and numbers of fleets, fishing rules enforcement or lack there of , etc.

There are many graphs, references, and notes for further research- in a nutshell, this is bible for fisheries research.

This study concludes with several recommendations for reviving the health and productivity of the oceans with a caveat that there is little time left to implement them. As abundantly described, the oceans are in a dismal state affairs and the time to act was yesterday. A call for a new ethic in ocean conservancy and resource management is in order.

Daniel Pauly coined the popular concept of "Shifting Base-lines" to describe historical and current trends in ocean health and this term has now been embraced and spread throughout just about all disciplines to measure and describe change over time. Indeed, everything from fish numbers over time, availability ofresources to one's waste-line changes. A very useful tool in describing the vagaries and impact of change over time!

UPDATE: In the April, 2007 National Geographic Magazine, there is an alarming and lengthy series on the dismal state of the World's ocean fisheries "The Global Fish Crisis". Complete with good text, research data and those famous NGM photos.


... Read more

Product Description

Scenarios are an invaluable tool for analyzing complex systems and understanding possible outcomes. This second volume of the MA series explores the implications of four different approaches for managing ecosystem services in the face of growing human demand for them:

The Global Orchestration approach, in which we emphasize equity, economic growth, and public goods, reacting to ecosystem problems when they reach critical stages.

Order from Strength, which emphasizes security and economic growth.

Adapting Mosaic, which emphasizes proactive management of ecosystems, local adaptation, and flexible governance.

TechnoGarden, a globalized approach with an emphasis on green technology and a proactive approach to managing ecosystems.

The Scenarios volume will help decision-makers and managers identify development paths that better maintain the resilience of ecosystems, and can reduce the risk of damage to human well-being and the environment.

Product Description
Ideal for today's young investigative reader, each A True Book includes lively sidebars, a glossary and index, plus a comprehensive "To Find Out More" section listing books, organizations, and Internet sites. A staple of library collections since the 1950s, the new A True Book series is the definitive nonfiction series for elementary school readers. ... Read more

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This book provides basic information on butterfly anatomy and natural history, as well as the proper way to catch and release butterflies--though with a stern reminder that netting butterflies is not permitted in the national parks. ... Read more

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Hydrothermal ecosystems can be expected to have existed on Earth since life arose. A hyperthermophilic lifestyle has been proposed for the common ancestor of life and submarine hydrothermal vents are a candidate site for the origin of life. An origin of life at high temperatures appears most probable, although an alternative hypothesis has hyperthermophiles as the only survivors of bolide impacts during the last stages of planetary accretion. Our interest in these ecosystems stems in part from research to develop strategies for the search for fossil life on Mars. This may well be our best opportunity in the near future to test whether life on Earth is a ‘unique experiment, or whether there is, or was, life elsewhere in the Solar System (and by extension, the Universe). In search for analogous fossil systems on Earth it is unfortunate that the palaeobiology of ancient hydrothermal ecosystems is almost completely unknown. This is because of lack of research on this topic, not absence of deposits on which to work. As a result of mineral exploration, many fossil subaqueous and subaerial spring systems are known: numerous gold and base metal deposits of all ages back to Archaean are in such ‘exhalative, ‘epithermal and ‘Kuroko-style systems. This book focuses attention on the history of high temperature ecosystems, bringing together biologists working on extant systems, especially from the point of view of microbiology and molecular phylogeny, with palaeobiologists working on ancient examples or who are familiar with microbial palaeobiology, geologists who know how to find such systems and who know what their tectonic, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics are, and planetary geologists who have a chance of finding such systems elsewhere. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent overview.
Explains the importance of hydrothermal systems with respect to the origins of life, and then explores the possibility of similar systems being present on Mars, as well as practical issues about detecting them.

Review-type papers on relevant topics are written by leading scientists in the field, including: hydrothermal systems as sites for emerging life (E.L. Shock), water on Mars (M. Carr), and evidence for hydrothermal systems on Mars (J. Farmer).

The papers were presented as part of a conference, and the book also includes transcripts of discussions between the authors/attendees.There are short question-and-answer sections following each paper, as well as several longer discussion sessions on specific topics. I found that to be a unique approach, and very interesting.

I have used this book as a reference many times -- but then, I do research on this subject! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Disappointed
I had looked forward to receiving this book but was more than disappointed when it arrived. I have been fascinated with fossils for the last 68 years and own a large number of books on fossils - several on individual "Lagerstatten" sites.

The "Lagerstatten" fossil sites have always been of great interest to me as they preserve such a wonderful and complete window on the past.

I have hunted extensively in one of the sites listed - Pit 11 of Mazon creek were many soft bodied fossil creatures are preserved. I was lucky enough to find one unique specimen that resides in the Field Museum in Chicago.

I have two other books covering several "Lagerstatten" fossil sites and they are both quite interesting.The problem with this book is that there is so little on each site and the pictures are quite quite small.The "Tully Monster" from Pit 11 is unrecognizable unless you had held one of them in your hand and knew what they looked like.


The BIG plus for this book is that they cover several sites that are not listed in my other "Lagerstatten" books and the pictures are in color even though quite small and for that I am also most thankful. Expanding the number and size ofpictures and expanding the text describing the material at each site would make this book worth 5 stars. I hope the authors decide to do just that in the future.

Very Interesting and enjoyable!
I really enjoyed this book. Well-organized, beautifully illustrated. A great read for anyone who loves paleontology and geology.
Being an amateur, though, I can't but note that a glossary of terms would be very helpful. ... Read more

Product Description
This revision maintains the position of Forest Ecosystems as the one source for the latest information on the advanced methods that have enhanced our understating of forest ecosystems. Further understanding is given to techniques to explore the changes in climatic cycles, the implications of wide-scale pollution, fire and other ecological disturbances that have a global effect. The inclusion of models, equations, graphs, and tabular examples provides readers with a full understanding of the methods and techniques.

* Includes a revised section on important advances in regional scale analyses

* Features an update to global scale analyses including revised color images

* Provides a detailed comparison of predicted vs. observed tree diversity across 65 eco-regions

* New companion website includes modeling software exercises and tutorials and video clips ... Read more

Product Description
Aquatic Ecosystems explains the interplay between various movements of matter and energy through ecosystems mediated by Dissolved Organic Matter. This book provides information on how much DOM there is in a particular aquatic ecosystem and where it originates. It explains whether the DOM composition varies from time to time and place to place. It also details how DOM becomes incorporated into microbial food webs, and gives a better, clarifying, understanding to its significance of DOM.

Dissolved Organic Matter (called DOM) is incredibly important in all aquatic ecosystems. Although it might seem that logs and leaves are more important, in fact the DOM is more crucial because the DOM is in a form that is available for use by all the organisms living in the the water. Furthermore, DOM influences complex food webs by mediating the availability of aquatic nutrients, metals, salts and minerals. DOM also affects water clarity, which of course has alters the way animals and plants live and feed in the water.
There are many ways to study DOM and this book focuses on several central questions. How much DOM is there in a particular aquatic ecosytem? Where does it come from? Does the composition of the DOM vary from time to time and place to palce? How does DOM become incorporated into microbial food webs, which are the basis of plant, invertebrate and vertebrate food webs? How can the answers to these and other questions about DOM be considered together so that a better understanding of the significance of DOM can emerge? ... Read more