TY - JOUR T1 - AMS Radiocarbon Dating of Large Za Baobabs (Adansonia za) of Madagascar. JF - PLoS One Y1 - 2016 A1 - Patrut, Adrian A1 - Patrut, Roxana T A1 - Danthu, Pascal A1 - Leong Pock-Tsy, Jean-Michel A1 - Rakosy, Laszlo A1 - Lowy, Daniel A A1 - von Reden, Karl F KW - Adansonia KW - Calibration KW - Ecology KW - Forests KW - Geography KW - Madagascar KW - Mass Spectrometry KW - Radiometric Dating KW - Time Factors KW - Trees KW - Wood AB -

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 ± 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.

VL - 11 IS - 1 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - AMS radiocarbon dating of very large Grandidier’s baobabs (Adansonia grandidieri) JF - Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms Y1 - 2015 A1 - Patrut, Adrian A1 - von Reden, Karl F. A1 - Danthu, Pascal A1 - Leong Pock-Tsy, Jean-Michel A1 - Rakosy, Laszlo A1 - Patrut, Roxana T. A1 - Lowy, Daniel A. A1 - Margineanu, Dragos AB - 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 ± 20 bp for Tsitakakoike and 930 ± 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. VL - 361 N1 - Cu2hzTimes Cited:2Cited References Count:20 JO - AMS radiocarbon dating of very large Grandidier’s baobabs (Adansonia grandidieri) ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Searching for the Oldest Baobab of Madagascar: Radiocarbon Investigation of Large Adansonia rubrostipa Trees JF - PLoS ONE Y1 - 2015 A1 - Patrut, Adrian A1 - von Reden, Karl F. A1 - Danthu, Pascal A1 - Leong Pock-Tsy, Jean-Michel A1 - Patrut, Roxana T. A1 - Lowy, Daniel A. AB - 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 “Grandmother” consists of 3 perfectly fused stems of different ages. The radiocarbon date of the oldest sample was found to be 1136 ± 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 “polygamous baobab”, 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. VL - 10 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0121170 IS - 3 JO - Searching for the Oldest Baobab of Madagascar: Radiocarbon Investigation of Large Adansonia rubrostipa Trees ER -