Research Paper

Freshwater ecosystems' contributions to people: a social media analysis of aquatic environments in Tucumán (Argentina)

¹ Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical (IBN); Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo (IML), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT), Cúpulas Horco Molle, Yerba Buena, Tucumán, 4107, Argentina
² Instituto de Ciencias Polares, Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (ICPA), Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego (UNTDF), Fuegia Basket 251, Ushuaia, 9410, Argentina
³ Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Houssay 200, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, 9410, Argentina
⁴ Laboratorio de Estudios del Antropoceno. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales. Universidad de Concepción, Victoria 631, Barrio Universitario, Concepción, Bío-Bío, Chile
⁵ Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad (IEB), Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile

^* Corresponding author: palberti78@gmail.com

Received: 4 August 2025
Accepted: 13 November 2025

Abstract

Environmental management requires understanding nature's multiple values, but capturing diverse perspectives can be challenging. Social media provide user-generated data that complement traditional approaches. Using Google Maps and YouTube, we conducted a sociocultural valuation of freshwater ecosystems in Argentina's Tucumán province. We assessed 1,338 images from 54 sites to determine (i) depiction of ecosystems and socio-environmental problems; (ii) users' age profile, uses, and activities in these spaces; (iii) portrayal of nature's contributions to people (NCP) and associated values; and (iv) geographic distribution NCP and values and related accessibility of sites. Most images depicted rivers and waterfalls (88% of images; 89% of sites), primarily in the Yungas ecoregion (99% of images; 94% of sites). Half of images (50%) and 87% of sites showed freshwater ecosystems with human uses and activities, mostly in the context of passive leisure (72% of images; 63% of sites). Activities that physically engaged with nature were less frequent and included fishing (7%), trekking (6%), kayaking (5%), and cycling (2%). Consequently, non-material NCP—especially aesthetic and naturalistic values—dominated the representations (97% of images; 98% of sites). Negative values were uncommon (1% of images; 28% of sites), mostly associated with the Plain regions. Finally, spatial trends were not a function of nearness to roads and population centers, as the Yungas ecoregion was clearly more depicted in social media, despite being less accessible. These findings enhance understanding of people-nature relationships in aquatic ecosystems and can inform monitoring strategies based on relational values, which complements mainstream foci on intrinsic and instrumental values.