@article {patrut_radiocarbon_2023, title = {Radiocarbon dating of the historic grand baobab of Mahajanga, Madagascar}, journal = {Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai Chemia}, volume = {68}, number = {1}, year = {2023}, month = {2023}, pages = {119{\textendash}129}, chapter = {119}, abstract = {The article reports the AMS (accelerator mass spectrometry) radiocarbon investigation of the historic Grand Baobab of Mahajanga. The largest African baobab of Madagascar exhibits a cluster structure, which consists of 6 fused ordinary stems and of 3 small binding stems. Two samples were collected from the largest stem and from a primary branch, out of which several tiny segments were extracted and dated by radiocarbon. The oldest dated sample segment had a radiocarbon date of 214 {\textpm} 17 BP, which corresponds to a calibrated age of 265 {\textpm} 25 calendar years. The dating results indicate that the Grand Baobab of Mahajanga is 275 {\textpm} 25 years old. }, doi = {10.24193/subbchem.2023.1.09}, author = {Patrut, Adrian and Patrut, Roxana T and Rakosy, Laszlo and RATIU, ILEANA ANDREEA and Danthu, Pascal and Leong Pock Tsy, Jean-Michel and von Reden, Karl F} } @article {2450, title = {The Growth Stop Phenomenon Of Baobabs (Adansonia Spp.) Identified By Radiocarbon DatingAbstract}, journal = {Radiocarbon}, volume = {59504754164661}, year = {2017}, month = {Jan-04-2017}, pages = {435 - 448}, abstract = {The article reports the growth stop phenomenon, which was documented only for baobabs, i.e. for trees belonging to the Adansonia genus. The identification of growth stop was enabled by radiocarbon dating, which allows a complex investigation of samples collected from the trunk/stems of baobabs. In several cases, the outermost rings of baobabs, which were close to the bark, were found to be old, with ages of several hundreds of years, instead of being very young. Dating results of samples collected from six baobabs are presented. For multistemmed baobabs, the growth stop may occur only for one or several stems. We identified four factors that may induce the growth stop: (i) stress determined by severe climate conditions, (ii) old age, (iii) the need to keep a stable internal architecture, and (iv) the collapse of stems that survive this trauma. Baobabs and their stems affected by growth stop may survive for several centuries, by continuing to produce leaves, flowers, and fruits. This phenomenon was associated with the capacity of baobabs to store large amounts of water in their trunks/stems in the rainy season. This reservoir of water is used during the dry season and allows the trees to survive prolonged drought periods.}, keywords = {Age determination, AMS, growth stop, Radiocarbon dating, tropical trees}, issn = {0033-8222}, doi = {10.1017/RDC.2016.92}, url = {https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0033822216000928/type/journal_articlehttps://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0033822216000928}, author = {Patrut, Adrian and Woodborne, Stephan and von Reden, Karl F and Hall, Grant and Patrut, Roxana T and Rakosy, Laszlo and Danthu, Pascal and Pock-Tsy, Jean-Michel Leong and Lowy, Daniel A and Margineanu, Dragos} } @article {1094, title = {AMS Radiocarbon Dating of Large Za Baobabs (Adansonia za) of Madagascar.}, journal = {PLoS One}, volume = {11}, year = {2016}, month = {2016}, pages = {e0146977}, abstract = {

The article reports the radiocarbon investigation of Anzapalivoro, the largest za baobab (Adansonia za) specimen of Madagascar and of another za, namely the Big cistern baobab. Several wood samples collected from the large inner cavity and from the outer part/exterior of the tree were investigated by AMS (accelerator mass spectrometry) radiocarbon dating. For samples collected from the cavity walls, the age values increase with the distance into the wood up to a point of maximum age, after which the values decrease toward the outer part. This anomaly of age sequences indicates that the inner cavity of Anzapalivoro is a false cavity, practically an empty space between several fused stems disposed in a ring-shaped structure. The radiocarbon date of the oldest sample was 780 {\textpm} 30 bp, which corresponds to a calibrated age of around 735 yr. Dating results indicate that Anzapalivoro has a closed ring-shaped structure, which consists of 5 fused stems that close a false cavity. The oldest part of the biggest za baobab has a calculated age of 900 years. We also disclose results of the investigation of a second za baobab, the Big cistern baobab, which was hollowed out for water storage. This specimen, which consists of 4 fused stems, was found to be around 260 years old.

}, keywords = {Adansonia, Calibration, Ecology, Forests, Geography, Madagascar, Mass Spectrometry, Radiometric Dating, Time Factors, Trees, Wood}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0146977}, author = {Patrut, Adrian and Patrut, Roxana T and Danthu, Pascal and Leong Pock-Tsy, Jean-Michel and Rakosy, Laszlo and Lowy, Daniel A and von Reden, Karl F} } @article {549, title = {AMS radiocarbon dating of very large Grandidier{\textquoteright}s baobabs (Adansonia grandidieri)}, journal = {Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms}, volume = {361}, year = {2015}, note = {Cu2hzTimes Cited:2Cited References Count:20}, month = {Oct 15}, pages = {591-598}, abstract = {The article reports the AMS radiocarbon investigation of the two largest known Adansonia grandidieri specimens. The two baobabs, which are named Tsitakakoike and Pregnant baobab, are located in Southwestern Madagascar, near Andombiro. A third specimen from this area, the House baobab, was also investigated. According to measurements, Tsitakakoike is the biggest individual above ground level of all Adansonia species. The House baobab was selected for its exposed structure, which is identical to the closed ring-shaped structure with false cavities identified by us in large and old Adansonia digitata specimens. According to our research, Tsitakakoike and the Pregnant baobab have multi-stemmed cylindrical trunks which are mainly hollow; the two very large baobabs also possess a ring-shaped structure. The radiocarbon dates of the oldest wood samples collected from the large trunks were 1274 {\textpm} 20 bp for Tsitakakoike and 930 {\textpm} 20 bp for the Pregnant baobab. According to their original positions and to the architectures of the two A. grandidieri, the ages of Tsitakakoike and Pregnant baobab would be between 1300 and 1500 years. Therefore, A. grandidieri becomes the third Adansonia species with individuals that can live over 1000 years, according to accurate dating results.}, issn = {0168-583X}, doi = {10.1016/j.nimb.2015.04.044}, author = {Patrut, Adrian and von Reden, Karl F. and Danthu, Pascal and Leong Pock-Tsy, Jean-Michel and Rakosy, Laszlo and Patrut, Roxana T. and Lowy, Daniel A. and Margineanu, Dragos} } @article {20, title = {Searching for the Oldest Baobab of Madagascar: Radiocarbon Investigation of Large Adansonia rubrostipa Trees}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {10}, year = {2015}, pages = {e0121170}, abstract = {We extended our research on the architecture, growth and age of trees belonging to the genus Adansonia, by starting to investigate large individuals of the most widespread Malagasy species. Our research also intends to identify the oldest baobabs of Madagascar. Here we present results of the radiocarbon investigation of the two most representative Adansonia rubrostipa (fony baobab) specimens, which are located in south-western Madagascar, in the Tsimanampetsotse National Park. We found that the fony baobab called {\^a}{\texteuro}{\oe}Grandmother{\^a}{\texteuro} consists of 3 perfectly fused stems of different ages. The radiocarbon date of the oldest sample was found to be 1136 {\^A}{\textpm} 16 BP. We estimated that the oldest part of this tree, which is mainly hollow, has an age close to 1,600 yr. This value is comparable to the age of the oldest Adansonia digitata (African baobab) specimens. By its age, the Grandmother is a major candidate for the oldest baobab of Madagascar. The second investigated specimen, called the {\^a}{\texteuro}{\oe}polygamous baobab{\^a}{\texteuro}, consists of 6 partially fused stems of different ages. According to dating results, this fony baobab is 1,000 yr old. This research is the first investigation of the structure and age of Malagasy baobabs.}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0121170}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1371\%2Fjournal.pone.0121170}, author = {Patrut, Adrian and von Reden, Karl F. and Danthu, Pascal and Leong Pock-Tsy, Jean-Michel and Patrut, Roxana T. and Lowy, Daniel A.} }