Assessing landscape features and ecosystem services of marine protected areas through photographs on social media: comparison of two archipelagos in Spain

Abstract Marine protected areas provide cultural services including the aesthetic appreciation of landscape and performance recreational activities. In this study, we use photographs shared by users in a digital repository to describe distinctive characteristics two terrestrial-maritime natural parks Spain. total, 1041 photos 2342 tags generated 76 were analyzed. The results show greatest salience values, followed historical monuments sighting fauna flora. methodology based on extraction data from Flickr facilitates efficient comparison Mediterranean archipelago (Cabrera Island) with an Atlantic (Cíes Islands). However, some important limitations also detected descriptive capacity method, content analysis external observers. But, overall, evaluation subjective experience visitors can be very useful for tourism management marine environment.