Systemic territoriality in academia : the Gollum effect's impact on scientific research and careers

Scientific progress depends on open collaboration and thus resource sharing, but possessive and territorial behaviors, which we call the Gollum Effect, threaten this ideal. This study reveals widespread resource hoarding and gatekeeping in ecology and conservation, particularly affecting early-career and marginalized researchers. Our findings highlight these systemic issues in academia and propose solutions to foster more collaborative, inclusive scientific environments essential for addressing global environmental challenges.