Research inefficiencies can generate huge waste: evidence from biomedical research has shown that most research is avoidably wasted and steps have been taken to tackle this costly problem. Although other scientific fields could also benefit from identifying and quantifying waste and acting to reduce it, no other estimates of research waste are available. Given that ecological issues interweave most of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, we argue that tackling research waste in ecology should be prioritized. Our study leads the way. We estimate components of waste in ecological research based on a literature review and a meta-analysis. Shockingly, our results suggest only 11–18% of conducted ecological research reaches its full informative value. All actors within the research system—including academic institutions, policymakers, funders and publishers—have a duty towards science, the environment, study organisms and the public, to urgently act and reduce this considerable yet preventable loss. We discuss potential ways forward and call for two major actions: (1) further research into waste in ecology (and beyond); (2) focused development and implementation of solutions to reduce unused potential of ecological research.

研究效率低下会产生巨大的浪费：生物医学研究的证据表明，大多数研究都是可以避免的浪费，并且已经采取措施解决这个代价高昂的问题。尽管其他科学领域也可以从识别和量化废物并采取行动减少废物中受益，但没有其他研究废物的估计可用。鉴于生态问题与大部分联合国可持续发展目标交织在一起，我们认为应优先解决生态学中的研究浪费问题。我们的研究引领潮流。我们根据文献综述和荟萃分析估计生态研究中废物的成分。令人震惊的是，我们的结果表明，只有 11-18% 的生态研究达到了其全部信息价值。研究系统内的所有参与者——包括学术机构、政策制定者、资助者和出版商——对科学、环境、研究生物体和公众负有责任，采取紧急行动并减少这一相当大但可以预防的损失。我们讨论了潜在的前进方向并呼吁采取两项主要行动：（1）进一步研究生态（及其他）废物；(2) 重点开发和实施解决方案，以减少生态研究中未使用的潜力。