Ann Sakai

Sakai received a B.A. from Oberlin College in 1972.{{Cite web|title=Biology Seminar — "Life after Oberlin: Conservation, Plants, and Pollinators"|url=https://calendar.oberlin.edu/event/biology_seminar_life_after_oberlin_conservation_plants_and_pollinators|access-date=2021-12-06|website=Oberlin College and Conservatory|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=UC Irvine - Faculty Profile System - Ann K. Sakai|url=https://www.faculty.uci.edu/profile.cfm?faculty_id=2693|access-date=2021-12-06|website=www.faculty.uci.edu|language=en}} She went on to earn a master's degree{{Cite web|date=2017|title=Ann Sakai|url=https://cms.botany.org/home/governance/elections/bsa-candidate-bios-2017-18/dalhd/ann-sakai.html|access-date=2021-12-07|website=cms.botany.org}} and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan working on the ecology of silver maple trees.{{Cite thesis|title=Ecological and evolutionary aspects of sex expression in silver maple (Acer saccharinum L.)|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/11818302|date=1978|language=English|first=Ann Kiku|last=Sakai|oclc = 11818302}} Following her Ph.D., she held positions at Oakland University and the University of Chicago before moving to the University of California, Irvine{{Cite web|title=2018 Dean's Report by UCI School of Biological Sciences - Issuu|url=https://issuu.com/ucibiosci/docs/2018_deans_report|access-date=2021-12-06|website=issuu.com|page=25|language=en}} where she has been a professor since 2002.

From 1993 until 1994 Sakai was a program officer in the Division of Environmental Biology at the National Science Foundation.{{Cite journal|last1=Sakai|first1=Ann K.|last2=Lane|first2=Melissa J.|date=1996|title=National Science Foundation Funding Patterns of Women and Minorities in Biology|url=https://doi.org/10.2307/1312991|journal=BioScience|volume=46|issue=8|pages=621–625|doi=10.2307/1312991|jstor=1312991|issn=0006-3568|url-access=subscription}}

Sakai is known for her work on plant breeding systems and how they have evolved over time. Her research uses two plants as model systems: the genus of Schiedea where she examines dioecy and pollination and the genus Oxalis where she studies heterostyly or variations in shape. Sakai's early research examined the role of temperature in plant survival.{{Cite journal|last=Sakai|first=A.|date=1966-02-01|title=Studies of Frost Hardiness in Woody Plants. II. Effect of Temperature on Hardening|journal=Plant Physiology|language=en|volume=41|issue=2|pages=353–359|doi=10.1104/pp.41.2.353|issn=0032-0889|pmc=1086345|pmid=16656262}}{{Cite journal|last=Sakai|first=A.|date=1970|title=Freezing Resistance in Willows from Different Climates|url=http://doi.wiley.com/10.2307/1935383|journal=Ecology|language=en|volume=51|issue=3|pages=485–491|doi=10.2307/1935383|jstor=1935383|url-access=subscription}} She went on to examine spatial patterns in sex of silver maple trees{{Cite journal|last1=Sakai|first1=Ann K.|last2=Oden|first2=Neal L.|date=1983|title=Spatial Pattern of Sex Expression in Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum L.): Morisita's Index and Spatial Autocorrelation|url=https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/284151|journal=The American Naturalist|language=en|volume=122|issue=4|pages=489–508|doi=10.1086/284151|s2cid=83883438|issn=0003-0147|url-access=subscription}} and aspen trees.{{Cite journal|last1=Sakai|first1=Ann K.|last2=Burris|first2=Timothy A.|date=1985|title=Growth in Male and Female Aspen Clones: A Twenty-Five-Year Longitudinal Study|url=http://doi.wiley.com/10.2307/2937388|journal=Ecology|language=en|volume=66|issue=6|pages=1921–1927|doi=10.2307/2937388|jstor=2937388|url-access=subscription}} Sakai has examined sex expression{{Cite journal|last1=Sakai|first1=Ann K.|last2=Weller|first2=Stephen G.|date=1991|title=Ecological Aspects of Sex Expression in Subdioecious Schiedea Globosa (caryophyllaceae)|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/j.1537-2197.1991.tb11420.x|journal=American Journal of Botany|language=en|volume=78|issue=9|pages=1280–1288|doi=10.1002/j.1537-2197.1991.tb11420.x|issn=1537-2197|url-access=subscription}} and inbreeding in Schiedea flowering plants.{{Cite journal|last1=Sakai|first1=Ann K.|last2=Karoly|first2=Keith|last3=Weller|first3=Stephen G.|date=1989|title=Inbreeding Depression in Schiedea Globosa and S. Salicaria (caryophyllaceae), Subdioecious and Gynodioecious Hawaiian Species|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/j.1537-2197.1989.tb11332.x|journal=American Journal of Botany|language=en|volume=76|issue=3|pages=437–444|doi=10.1002/j.1537-2197.1989.tb11332.x|issn=1537-2197|url-access=subscription}} She has also used Hawaiian plants as a model to examine dioecy, or the presentation of separate male and female plants.{{Cite journal|last1=Sakai|first1=Ann K.|last2=Wagner|first2=Warren L.|last3=Ferguson|first3=Diane M.|last4=Herbst|first4=Derral R.|date=1995|title=Origins of Dioecy in the Hawaiian Flora|url=http://doi.wiley.com/10.2307/2265825|journal=Ecology|language=en|volume=76|issue=8|pages=2517–2529|doi=10.2307/2265825|jstor=2265825|url-access=subscription}}{{Cite journal|last1=Weller|first1=Stephen G.|last2=Sakai|first2=Ann K.|last3=Rankin|first3=Anne E.|last4=Golonka|first4=Annette|last5=Kutcher|first5=Brenda|last6=Ashby|first6=Karen E.|date=1998|title=Dioecy and the evolution of pollination systems in Schiedea and Alsinidendron (Caryophyllaceae: Alsinoideae) in the Hawaiian Islands|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2307/2446396|journal=American Journal of Botany|language=en|volume=85|issue=10|pages=1377–1388|doi=10.2307/2446396|jstor=2446396|pmid=21684891|issn=0002-9122|url-access=subscription}} Some of the plants Sakai researches are endangered species, and she has examined the reasons for declining plant populations{{Cite journal|last1=Sakai|first1=Ann K.|last2=Wagner|first2=Warren L.|last3=Mehrhoff|first3=Loyal A.|date=2002-03-01|editor-last=Funk|editor-first=Vicki|title=Patterns of Endangerment in the Hawaiian Flora|url=http://academic.oup.com/sysbio/article/51/2/276/1661487|journal=Systematic Biology|language=en|volume=51|issue=2|pages=276–302|doi=10.1080/10635150252899770|pmid=12028733|issn=1076-836X|url-access=subscription}} and the population genetics of invasive species.{{Cite journal|last1=Sakai|first1=Ann K.|last2=Allendorf|first2=Fred W.|last3=Holt|first3=Jodie S.|last4=Lodge|first4=David M.|last5=Molofsky|first5=Jane|last6=With|first6=Kimberly A.|last7=Baughman|first7=Syndallas|last8=Cabin|first8=Robert J.|last9=Cohen|first9=Joel E.|last10=Ellstrand|first10=Norman C.|last11=McCauley|first11=David E.|date=2001|title=The Population Biology of Invasive Species|url=https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.32.081501.114037|journal=Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics|language=en|volume=32|issue=1|pages=305–332|doi=10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.32.081501.114037|issn=0066-4162|url-access=subscription}} Her work includes collaborations with Stephen Weller, including the observation that pollination of Schiedea flowering plants occurs through the actions of a Hawaiian moth.{{Cite journal|last1=Weller|first1=Stephen G.|last2=Sakai|first2=Ann K.|last3=Campbell|first3=Diane R.|last4=Powers|first4=John M.|last5=Peña|first5=Sean R.|last6=Keir|first6=Matthew J.|last7=Loomis|first7=Alexander K.|last8=Heintzman|first8=Scott M.|last9=Weisenberger|first9=Lauren|date=2017|title=An enigmatic Hawaiian moth is a missing link in the adaptive radiation of Schiedea|journal=New Phytologist|language=en|volume=213|issue=3|pages=1533–1542|doi=10.1111/nph.14254|pmid=28079938|issn=0028-646X|doi-access=free}} Her work on conservation of Schiedea kauaiensis was portrayed in a 2019 video describing how she is studying and protecting rare plants in Kaua'i, Hawaii, through her work with students, amateur botanists, and the National Tropical Botanical Garden.{{Cite web|date=2021-01-29|title=Video: How to save a species from going EXTINCT {{!}} Plants are Cool, Too!|url=https://botanydepot.com/2021/01/29/video-ptact-hawaii/|access-date=2021-12-06|website=Botany Depot|language=en-US}}

Sakai has defined the conditions that lead to a lack of retention of women in science and has sought to broaden participation of underrepresented groups.{{Cite web|title=Distinguished Fellow of the Botanical Society of America|url=https://botany.org/home/awards/awards-for-established-scientists/distinguishedfellow.html|access-date=December 5, 2021|website=Botanical Society of America}} In 2011, Sakai received funding from the National Science Foundation to establish the PLANTS program (Preparing Leaders and Nurturing Tomorrow's Scientists) which aims to broaden participation of underrepresented groups in botany.{{Cite web|title=NSF Award Search: Award # 1137471 - PLANTS (Preparing Leaders and Nurturing Tomorrow's Scientists): Increasing the diversity of plant scientists|url=https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1137471|access-date=2021-12-06|website=www.nsf.gov}}{{Cite web|title=NSF Award Search: Award # 1549708 - PLANTS II: Increasing the diversity of plant scientists|url=https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1549708|access-date=2021-12-06|website=www.nsf.gov}} In the period from 2011 until 2015, more than 60 students were able to use this funding to attend a botany meeting and interact with mentors in the field.{{Cite news|title=Plant Science Bulletin|publisher=Botanical Society of America|year=2016|volume=62|issue=3|pages=121–123|url=https://issuu.com/botanicalsocietyofamerica/docs/psb_62_3_2016web/11|access-date=December 6, 2021}}

• {{cite journal |last1=Sakai |first1=Ann K. |last2=Allendorf |first2=Fred W. |last3=Holt |first3=Jodie S. |last4=Lodge |first4=David M. |last5=Molofsky |first5=Jane |last6=With |first6=Kimberly A. |last7=Baughman |first7=Syndallas |last8=Cabin |first8=Robert J. |last9=Cohen |first9=Joel E. |last10=Ellstrand |first10=Norman C. |last11=McCauley |first11=David E. |last12=O'Neil |first12=Pamela |last13=Parker |first13=Ingrid M. |last14=Thompson |first14=John N. |last15=Weller |first15=Stephen G. |title=The Population Biology of Invasive Species |journal=Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics |date=1 November 2001 |volume=32 |issue=1 |pages=305–332 |doi=10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.32.081501.114037 |url=https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.32.081501.114037 |issn=0066-4162|url-access=subscription }}
• {{cite journal |last1=Sakai |first1=Ann K. |last2=Wagner |first2=Warren L. |last3=Mehrhoff |first3=Loyal A. |title=Patterns of Endangerment in the Hawaiian Flora |journal=Systematic Biology |date=1 March 2002 |volume=51 |issue=2 |pages=276–302 |doi=10.1080/10635150252899770 |pmid=12028733 |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/10635150252899770 |issn=1076-836X|url-access=subscription }}
• {{cite book |last1=Sakai |first1=Ann K. |last2=Weller |first2=Stephen G. |title=Gender and Sexual Dimorphism in Flowering Plants: A review of Terminology, Biogeographic Patterns, Ecological Correlates, and Phylogenetic Approaches |journal=Gender and Sexual Dimorphism in Flowering Plants |date=1999 |pages=1–31 |doi=10.1007/978-3-662-03908-3_1|isbn=978-3-642-08424-9 }}
• {{Cite journal|last1=Culley|first1=Theresa M.|last2=Weller|first2=Stephen G.|last3=Sakai|first3=Ann K.|date=2002|title=The evolution of wind pollination in angiosperms|url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0169534702025405|journal=Trends in Ecology & Evolution|language=en|volume=17|issue=8|pages=361–369|doi=10.1016/S0169-5347(02)02540-5|url-access=subscription}}
• {{Cite journal|last1=Sakai|first1=Ann K.|last2=Wagner|first2=Warren L.|last3=Ferguson|first3=Diane M.|last4=Herbst|first4=Derral R.|date=1995|title=Origins of Dioecy in the Hawaiian Flora|url=http://doi.wiley.com/10.2307/2265825|journal=Ecology|language=en|volume=76|issue=8|pages=2517–2529|doi=10.2307/2265825|jstor=2265825|url-access=subscription}}

Sakai was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2012.{{Cite web|title=Historic Fellows {{!}} American Association for the Advancement of Science|url=https://www.aaas.org/fellows/historic|access-date=2021-12-06|website=www.aaas.org|language=en}} In 2019, Sakai was named a Distinguished Fellow of the Botanical Society of America, the highest honor bestowed by the society.

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• {{YouTube|Y1zNfODhM4o|How to save a species from going EXTINCT}} January 28, 2021 interview with Sakai and colleagues

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Category:Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Category:University of Michigan alumni

Category:Oberlin College alumni

Category:University of California, Irvine faculty

Category:American women botanists

Category:American botanists

Category:Conservation biologists

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people