The role of ecological science in environmental management has been discussed by many authors who recognize that there is a persistent gap between ecological science and environmental management. Here we develop theory through different perspectives based on knowledge types, research categories and research-management interface types, which we combine into a common framework. To draw out insights for bridging this gap, we build our case by: 1- explicitizing the link between three categories of ecological research and the type of research-management interface they are associated with. We first evaluate three types of unidirectional interfaces and recommend a new kind of interface - called the Research-Within-Management interface (RWM). 2- suggesting that adaptive management and structured decision-making can integrate all these different angles and serve as meta-interfaces in their relation to research. 3- distinguishing explanatory knowledge from empirical knowledge, and contending that explanatory knowledge is not necessarily the most important output for the research-management interface today. 4- highlighting that experiential ecological knowledge