Age, Growth and Death of a National Icon: The Historic Chapman Baobab of Botswana

Laszlo Rakosy,Grant Hall,Stephan Woodborne,Karl F. von Reden,Roxana T. Patrut,Adrian Patrut,Christiaan Winterbach

doi:10.3390/f10110983

Abstract

The year 2016 witnessed the fall of a symbol of the botanical world: the historic Chapman baobab of Botswana. This article presents the results of our investigation of the standing and fallen tree. The Chapman baobab had an open ring-shaped structure composed of six partially fused stems. Several wood samples collected from the stems prior and after their collapse were analysed by using radiocarbon dating. The radiocarbon date of the oldest sample was 1381 ± 22 BP, which corresponds to a calibrated age of 1345 (+10, −15) calendar years. The dating results show that the six stems of the Chapman baobab belonged to three different generations, which were 1350–1400, 800–1000 and 500–600 years old. The growth rate variation of the largest and oldest stem is presented and correlated with the climate evolution in the area over the past 1000 years. The factors that determined the sudden fall and death of the Chapman baobab are also presented and discussed.

Highlights

According to recent research, populations of large old trees are rapidly declining in many parts of the world
Our research reports the results of the accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon investigation of the famous historic
The research was performed in order to ascertain the architecture, age and growth rate of the Chapman baobab, as well as the factors which determined its untimely demise

Summary

Introduction

Populations of large old trees are rapidly declining in many parts of the world. This fact has serious implications on ecosystem integrity and biodiversity. Large and old-looking baobabs are living natural monuments. The sight of the six large stems of Chapman lying, on the in the salt pans of Central Botswana and was declared a National Monument. 2016, sight of six large stemsdramatic of Chapman lying on the ground in three different directions with roots exposed is likely the most dramatic in the history monumental trees The ground in three different directions with roots exposed is likely the most dramatic in the history of monumental trees (Figures 3 and 4).

Main view

The Chapman Baobab and Its Area

Sample Collection

AMS Measurements

Radiocarbon Dates and Calibrated Ages

Sample Ages

Growth

Fall and Death

Conclusions