Terry, L. (2023, June 1). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will decide whether endangered Oregon beetle needs federal protection. Oregon Capital Chronicle. Retrieved August 27, 2023, from https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/briefs/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service-will-decide-whether-endangered-oregon-beetle-needs-federal-protection/ 

After concerns about the extinction of the Siuslaw hairy-necked tiger beetle were raised throughout 2020-2022 and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service failed to help, the Center for Biological Diversity sued to gain protection for the beetle. In Oregon, this beetle is extremely important to local ecosystems, as the loss of biodiversity in the case of extinction would mean the spread of pests, disease, and loss of food production. Without protections from the Endangered Species Act, the beetle will continue to have its habitat decimated by climate change and human interference for entertainment. 

This article is important to understand how a single species can affect an entire ecosystem. The Siuslaw hairy-necked tiger beetle is a species that is obviously less well-known but is still pertinent to upholding the biodiversity of their coastal habitats. While I found it inspiring that a small population can uphold a significant part of the ecosystem, I was worried about the decreased biodiversity that could come from the extinction of this beetle. This has the potential to disrupt other species in the same area, such as predators of the beetle that may starve without enough sustenance. This article proves that every living being has a role in their ecosystem, and shows how we should not let certain species go unnoticed due to human preference.