What is one major threat to the population of freshwater turtles?

One major threat to the population of freshwater turtles is overhunting for market trade. This practice poses significant risks as it often targets specific species that are prized for their shells, meat, or as exotic pets. The high demand in various markets can lead to unsustainable harvesting levels, severely depleting populations. When turtles are overhunted, it disrupts their reproductive rates and can lead to local extinctions, further compounding the issue as they have relatively slow growth rates and long lifespans.

While climate change impacts on breeding, habitat restoration efforts, and invasive species competition can all affect freshwater turtle populations, they do not present the immediate and direct threat that overhunting creates. Habitat restoration efforts, for example, aim to improve conditions for turtles, while climate change and invasive species pose broader ecological challenges that can be more gradual or may affect multiple species simultaneously. In contrast, the impact of overhunting tends to be rapid and can result in significant population declines within a short timeframe.