In Ecosystems & Species: The Web of Nature, Dr. Timothy Polnaszek introduces students to the often overlooked but fascinating scientific branch of Ecology, showing how the myriad species found all over earth interact with one another and their environment. Students will learn how animals and plants adapt to harsh environments—sometimes competing, sometimes working together. By exploring nature and examining species, populations, communities, and entire ecosystems, the meticulous balance that God has written into His creation becomes apparent.
Did you know . . .
- Some mantises and spiders camouflage themselves as flowers to catch insect prey.
- Like animals, plants can also sweat.
- Wood frogs live throughout Canada and Alaska because they can survive frozen solid in winter (like a frog popsicle!), and simply thaw out in warmer months.
- Some tropical dry forest biomes can have as much as seventy-five inches of rain during its rainy season and as little as two inches in the dry season.
- The aptly named fat-tailed dwarf lemur stores fat in its tail to use as an energy source when it hibernates.
Catholic Permeation: Beyond this, students will meet heroic figures such as St. Anthony of Egypt and the Desert Fathers; explore the groundbreaking discoveries of the Augustinian friar Gregor Mendel and their lasting impact on modern genetics; reflect on St. Augustine’s insights into the nature of animals; and recognize how science, far from conflicting with faith, points directly to God’s creative power and governance.
Ecosystems & Species Video Series
Accompanying the textbook, audiobook, and workbook, this video series seeks to challenge students to think more deeply about the world around them, setting them off on a search to discover God in the hidden corners of his creation. Hosted by Foundations editor Brian Kennelly, each video uses a short review of the chapter’s content as a platform to discuss a host of spiritual topics that reveal the truths of the Catholic Faith.
In Ecosystems & Species: The Web of Nature, such talks will explore . . .
- what the Church means by the term “economy of salvation”
- the symbolic connection between the miraculous manna in the desert and the Eucharist
- how Christ is like the keystone of our lives, while sin is like an invasive species
- the importance of passing down the traditions of our Faith
- the challenging but vitally important spiritual work of mercy known as “admonishing the sinner”
- how devotions spread throughout the lay faithful
The Foundations of Science video series seeks to reward those who are willing to explore and investigate the wonder and beauty of God’s world, so that we can discover that all things, both big and small, point back to Him.
- Format:
- Streaming Video
- Product Format:
- eBook
- Format:
- Digital
