RADIOCARBON DENDROCHRONOLOGY, ISOTOPE DENDROCLIMATOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF MONUMENTAL ANGIOSPERM TREES OF THE WORLD |
CERCETĂRI DENDROCRONOLOGICE CU RADIOCARBON, STUDII DENDROCLIMATOLOGICE CU IZOTOPI STABILI ȘI CONSERVAREA UNOR ARBORI ANGIOSPERMI MONUMENTALI DIN LUME |
Cod proiect (Project code): PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2020-2567 Acronim (Acronym): RADISODEN |
Abstract |
Proiectul de cercetare continuă și extinde cercetările noastre dendrocronologice și dendroclimatologice precedente asupra unor arbori
monumentali în regiuni care nu au fost încă cercetate din zone tropicale și temperate. A fost adăugată o nouă temă de cercetare, referitoare la protecția și conservarea arborilor monumentali. Cercetarea dendrocronologică se bazează
pe metodologia noastră originală,
care constă în datarea cu radiocarbon prin AMS
a mostrelor de lemn recoltate din arbori angiospermi. Intenționăm
să lămurim definitiv problema arhiteturii, creșterii și vârstei baobabilor monumentali. Investigațiile noastre se vor focaliza îndeosebi asupra specimenelor aparținând genului Adansonia, și anume A. grandidieri din Madagascar și
A. gregorii din Australia, dar
și asupra A. digitata din Africa continentală.
Vor fi investigați și arbori angiospermi respectabili din România, Moldova și Europa.
Cercetarea dendroclimatologică
va folosi ca indicator
proxy inelele de creștere
ale baoabilor, datate în prealabil cu radiocarbon. Reconstrucția climatică
pe ultimii 1000-2000 ani, bazată pe analiza de izotopi stabili ai carbonului și oxigenului, se va focaliza asupra
dinamicii Zonei de convergență intertropicală
și a variabilității
musonilor. Zonele țintă sunt Senegal,
Angola, Namibia, Oman, Congo și Madagascar. Se
va acorda o atenție deosebită protecției și conservării baobabilor monumentali din Senegal, Namibia și
Madagascar, unde aceștia
se află sub amenițare
antropică severă. |
Abstract |
The research
project continues and enhances our previous studies on dendrochronology and
dendroclimatology of superlative angiosperm trees in new areas from tropical
and temperate zones, which have not been studied. A new research topic,
concerning the protection and conservation of monumental trees, was included.
The dendorchronological research is based on our
original approach, consisting of AMS radiocarbon dating of wood samples
collected from large live trees. We intend to clarify definitively the aspects
of the architecture, growth, age of monumental baobabs. Our investigation
will focus especially on specimens belonging to the Adansonia
genus, namely A. grandidieri from Madagascar and A.
gregorii from Australia in particular but also A. digitata from mainland Africa. Large angiosperm trees
from Romania, Moldova and Europe will also be investigated. The dendroclimatological research will use baobab growth
rings, previously dated by radiocarbon, as proxy. The climate reconstructions
over the last 1000-2000 years, which are based on stable carbon and oxygen
isotope chemistry, will focus on Intertropical Convergence Zone dynamics and
monsoon variability. Target areas include Senegal, Angola, Namibia, Oman,
Congo and Madagascar. A particular attention will be given to the protection
and conservation of baobab forests and monumental specimens from Senegal,
Namibia and Madagascar, which are facing severe anthropic threats. |
Obiectivul proiectului |
Titlul proiectului “Cercetări dendrocronologice cu radiocarbon, studii
dendroclimatologice cu izotopi
stabili şi conservarea unor arbori monumentali din lume” reflectă obiectivele proiectului şi cele 3 direcţii principale de cercetare, şi anume: |
Project’s
goals |
The title of the
project itself “Radiocarbon dendrochronology, isotope dendroclimatology and
conservation of monumental angiosperm trees of the world” expresses the
objectives and the three main research directions of the project, namely: |
Rezultatele
estimate |
Rezultatele obţinute vor fi prezentate în rapoartele de cercetare/activitate întocmite la sfîrşitul fiecărei etape. Principalele rezultate vor fi diseminate într-un număr de 10-12 articole,
care vor fi înaintate spre publicare în reviste ştiinţifice
indexate ISI, ca de exemplu
Radiocarbon, Dendrochronology, Plos One, Forests,
Tree Physiology, Annals of Forest Science, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in
Physics B, Frontiers in Climate, Plant şi reviste ce aparţin
grupului Nature. De asemenea,
acestea vor face obiectul a 5-7 prezentări
la conferinţele internaţionale
de radiocarbon, de exemplu AMS-15 (Sydney, Australia 2021), Radiocarbon and
Environment-3 (Gliwice, Polonia 2021),
Radiocarbon-24 (Jerusalem, Israel 2022) şi la conferinţe despre climă şi modificări climatice. |
Estimated
results |
The obtained
results will be disclosed in research/activity reports, which will be
delivered at the end of every research period. The main results will also be
disseminated in a number of 10-12 articles, which will be published in ISI
peer-reviewed international scientific journals, such as Radiocarbon,
Dendrochronology, Plos One, Forests, Tree
Physiology, Annals of Forest Science, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in
Physics B, Frontiers in Climate, Plants and
journals which belong to the Nature group. We also envisage presenting our
findings in at least 5-7 presentations at the main international radiocarbon
conferences, i.e., AMS-15 (Sydney, Australia 2021), Radiocarbon and
Environment-3 (Gliwice, Poland 2021), Radiocarbon-24 (Jerusalem, Israel 2022)
and one or two climate conferences, which are to be disclosed. |
Articole publicate (Published papers) |
1. A. Pătruţ, R.T. Pătruţ,
L. Rakosy, D. Rakosy,
I.A. Raţiu, K.F. von Reden,
Radiocarbon investigation of the Big Baobab of Outapi,
Namibia, Studia UBB Chemia,
LXVI, 1,, 2021, 153-163, doi:
10.24193/subbchem.2021.1.12 2. A. Pătruţ, R.T. Pătruţ,
J-M. Leong Pock-Tsy, P. Danthu,
S. Woodbborne, L. Rakosy,
I.A. Raţiu, Investigation of the Architecture
and Age of Superlative Adansonia grandidieri from the Andombiry Forest,
Madagascar, Forests, 2021, 12, 1258, doi.org/10.3390/f12091258 3. A. Pătruţ, L. Rakosy,
R.T. Pătruţ, V. Bocoş-Binţinţan,
I.A. Raţiu, J. Bodis,
S. Woodborne, AMS Radiocarbon dating of the large pedunculate oak of Mercheaşa,
Romania, Studia UBB Chemia,
LXVI, 3, 2021, 255-263, doi:
10.24193/subbchem.2021.3.16 4. A. Pătruţ, R.T. Pătruţ,
L. Rakosy, I.A. Raţiu,
D.A. Lowy, K.F. von Reden, Age, growth and
architecture of the Big Tree at Victoria Falls, Dendrochronologia,
70, 2021, 125898, doi.org/10.1016/j.dendro.2021.125898 |
Participare la conferințe științifice |
Conferința internațională AMS-15 de la Sydney, Asutralia. Participare cu o prezentare de tip poster: A. Pătruţ, R.T. Pătruţ,
L. Rakosy, D. Rakosy,
I.A. Raţiu, W. Oliver, K.F. von Reden, Radiocarbon investigation of the large African
baobabs of Outapi, Namibia. |
Scientific conference participation |
AMS-15
international conference, Sydeny, Australia. Participated with a
poster presentation: A. Pătruţ, R.T. Pătruţ,
L. Rakosy, D. Rakosy,
I.A. Raţiu, W. Oliver, K.F. von Reden, Radiocarbon investigation of the large African
baobabs of Outapi, Namibia. |
Echipă și colaboratori (Team and collaborators) |
Project leader -
Prof. Dr. Adrian Pătruț, Brainmap ID: U-1700-027W-4035, email: apatrut@gmail.com Senior researcher -
Prof. Dr. Laszlo Rakosy, Brainmap
ID: U-1700-039C-4401 Research assistant
- Dr. Ileana Rațiu, Brainmap
ID: U-1900-061R-9515 Research assistant
- Dr. Roxana Pătruț, Brainmap
ID: U-1700-037S-8765 |
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL REPORT
on
the implementation of the project entitled
Radiocarbon dendrochronology, isotope dendroclimatology and conservation of monumental angiosperm
trees of the world
(Acronym RADACLIR)
Code
PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2020-2567
Contract
No. PCE 145/2021
________________________________
for the period January - December
2021
SUMMARY OF
THE UNIQUE PHASE I (2021)
The project consists of 3 recurring
phases with identical designation, each with 4 identical objectives and similar
actions (action types). The differentiation is possible by the 1, 2 or 3 index, and I, II or III, respectively, which correspond to
the three different years of the project period and also to the different
investigated areas and angiosperm species. Accordingly, the phase for 2021 is
called Phase 1 – The conservation and protection of monumental trees and their
radiocarbon dating, and stable isotope analysis, respectively. The specific
objectives of Phase 1 concern the radiocarbon dating of baobabs (objective
1.1), the climate study based on wood samples collected from baobabs and
investigated by stable isotope analysis (objective 1.2), the measuring and
dating of angiosperm trees in Romania and Europe (objective 1.3) and the
dissemination of results (objective 1.4).
The
scientific activities of the research project performed during the
January-December 2021 implementation period pursued the fulfillment of the
objectives mentioned in the unique phase of the Project Implementation Plan for
2021.
Unique
phase 1 (2021): Conservation and protection of superlative trees and the AMS
radiocarbon investigation and stable isotope analysis of such trees (I).
Objective 1.1. Dating of baobabs (I).
Action 1.1.1. Sample collection from 35 baobabs.
Objective
1.2. Climate study (I).
Action 1.2.1. Sample
collection from 35 baobabs.
A
number of 45 representative African baobabs (Adansonia digitata) from Senegal and Tanzania were measured and
investigated. Samples for radiocarbon dating were collected from 36 specimens
(compared to 35 envisaged) and from 3 baobabs for stable isotope analysis,
respectively (compared to 3 envisaged).
An important
visit to Senegal took place in September-October 2021, with
special focus on the Dakar-M’bour-Fissel-Samba Dia area. With its 5-10 million
specimens, Senegal is the country with the highest number of African baobabs in
the northern hemisphere. Moreover, Senegal hosts the largest and oldest
superlative baobabs of the northern hemisphere.
In this respect,
we mention the baobab located close to the Sinthiou-Keita settlement, in the
proximity of Nianing town in the Thičs region. This baobab has the biggest wood
volume V = 300 m3 in the
northern hemisphere. It has a cluster structure composed of 3 common stems and
2 false stems (Fig. 1). The measurements are: height h = 22.5 m, circumference
(at 1.30 m above ground level) cbh = 27.10 m. The baobab is around 750 years
old.
Fig.
1. The Sinthiou-Keita baobab has the biggest wood volume (300 m3) in
the northern hemisphere.
Our research team investigated the sacred baobab of
Nianing, also in the Thičs region, which is a good candidate for the title of
Senegal’s oldest tree. Its closed ring-shaped structure is formed by 11 main
stems around a false cavity; 3 younger stems and a false stem are located
outside the ring(s) (Fig. 2). Its measurements are: h = 18.7 m, cbh = 24.70 m
and V = 180 m3.
Fig.
2. The Nianing baobab consists of 15 fused stems.
The
baobab with the largest circumference in the northern hemisphere remains the
baobab of Warang, Senegal. This remarkable tree has
18 stems. Its circumference now reaches cbh = 28.90
m. In 2019, we reported that the baobab, which was previously located on vacant
land, was enclosed in a yard of a newly built house. We expressed our concern
for the damage to the roots during the construction process and building of the
fence (Fig. 3). Currently, discussions with the French owner revealed that she
will protect the baobab as much as possible, paying it a special attention.
Fig. 3. The large baobab of Warang is now enclosed
between the fence walls of a backyard and has become a sort of “household
baobab”.
In August 2021, our research team travelled to
Tanzania, focusing on the baobabs of Unguja island (Zanzibar). Unguja island has a total area of 1666 km2
and a maximum length of 83 km, hosting a number of 50.000 – 100.000 African
baobabs. The majority are aggregated in the southern and northern regions and
partly in the central region, usually in the coastal areas.
The largest
baobab of Tanzania was located in Kizimkazi Dimbani in Zanzibar and had a wood
volume of 300 m3. This specimen was severely damaged during a heavy
storm, which led to its demise in April 2018. Some wood samples were collected
from the remains of its trunk and branches.
Close to Kizimkazi, in Makunduchi, a grove of large
baobabs can be found. The largest, which we called Makunduchi-1, exhibits a
cluster structure and consists of 8 common and 7 false stems (Fig. 4). The
measurements are: h = 19.5 m, cbh = 20.05 m, V = 180 m3. The baobab
has particular spherical-shaped pods of large sizes.
In the central-western region of Unguja, south of
Stone Town lies the Fumba Beach Lodge resort, right on the shores of the Indian
Ocean. The resort hosts several African baobabs and the largest, which we
called Fumba-1, grows among an unusual ancillary building area that reaches its
crown. The baobab has 4 common and one false stems that are fused together
forming a cluster structure (Fig. 5). Its measurements are: h = 14.3 m, cbh = 21.45 m, V = 140 m3.
Fig.
4. The Makunduchi-1 baobab has 15 fused stems.
Actions
1.1.2. Pretreatment (80 segments), 1.1.3. AMS radiocarbon dating (80 segments)
and 1.1.4. Calibration (80 segments).
85 wood segments
were pretreated by the acid-base-acid or α-cellulose pretreatment method,
then AMS (accelerator mass spectrometer) radiocarbon dated and subsequently calibrated
(compared to 80 envisaged).
The radiocarbon dating by AMS was performed at the iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences (iThemba LABS) in Johannesburg (South Africa) and at the Hertelendi Laboratory of
Environmental Studies (Isotoptech Zrt
and MTA ATOMKI), Debrecen (Hungary).
Action 1.2.2.
Stable isotope analysis (5000 segments). Stable isotope
analysis for determining the
δ13C and δ18O values were
performed at the Stable Isotope Laboratory of iThemba
LABS, Gauteng (South Africa).
Fig. 5. The
Fumba-1 baobab, which grows directly on the beach, has its lower part submerged
underwater from time to time.
Objective 1.3. Measuring and dating
trees of Romania, Moldova and Europe (I)
In July 2021, our research team undertook a trip to
the pasture of Mercheaşa village, Homorod commune, Braşov county. A
superlative pedunculate oak (Quercus
robur) located there was called the “Carpathian Elder”. This tree
experienced increased media attention over the last years, which included an
exaggerated age estimate of 900 years. The current measurements are: h = 17.6
m, cbh = 10.16 m, V = 50 m3. Dozens of daily visitors from all over
the country visit the tree, which is considered to be “the oldest of Romania”.
In order to dispel this myth, we collected samples for radiocarbon dating. The
dating results indicated that the oak of Mercheaşa has a real age of
around 560 years.
Fig.
6. The Mercheaşa oak has an age of “only” 560 years.
In October 2021, the research team travelled to the
Sadova village, a suburb of Cîmpulung Moldovenesc city, Suceava county, where a
centennial wych elm (Ulmus glabra)
can be found. The elm is in a degraded state, missing a large chunk of its
trunk. Furthermore, the trunk is mostly empty inside and only three branches of
the original crown remain (Fig. 7). The current measurements are: h = 13.8 m,
cbh = 6.77 m.
In the beginning of June, the research team travelled
to Tenerife island, Spain. Here the endemic dragon trees (Dracaena draco) were investigated. The most representative
specimens of the species were measured, with a special focus on the famous Icod
tree, also known as “El drago milenario”.
Fig. 7. The wych elm of Sadova.
Actions 1.3.1. Measuring 40
trees, 1.3.2. Collecting samples of 4 trees, 1.3.3. Pretreatment (20 segments)
and 1.3.4. AMS radiocarbon dating (20 segments).
A total of 56 trees were measured (compared to 40
envisaged), and samples were collected from 8 trees (compared to 4 envisaged),
30 segments (compared to 20 envisaged) were pretreated and subsequently
radiocarbon dated.
Objective 1.4. Dissemination of results.
Action
1.4.1. The writing or publishing of 2-3 scientific papers.
In 2021, we published 4 scientific
papers, all in ISI journals, out of which 2 are in the so-called red zone,
according to the CNCS classification system. All papers mention that „The research was funded by the Romanian Ministry of Education
CNCS-UEFISCDI under grant PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2020-2567,
No. 145/2021.”
Action 1.4.2.
3-5 presentations at international Conferences, such as AMS-15 (Sydney),
Radiocarbon and the Environment (Gliwice) etc.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the
scheduled conferences were postponed for the next year, except for the AMS-15
conference in Sydney, which took place online.
Action
1.4.3. The writing of the annual activity report. This activity refers to
the writing of the present report.
The contribution of the project to the development of human resources for research.
On the research team included a Ph.D. candidate, namely Roxana Pătruţ and a postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Ileana Raţiu.
The Ph.D. candidate partook in most (inter)national field trips, is a co-author of all 4 published papers and of the international AMS-15 conference presentation. In 2021, the Ph.D. candidate defended her thesis entitled
“The investigation of some superlative baobabs (Adansonia spp.) by AMS radiocarbon dating for assessing
the ages, architecture and growth rates, and by stable isotope analysis respectively, for climate study” (Ph.D. supervisor: Prof. Dr. Laszlo Rakosy), which was based on data
and results obtained via the current and previous research projects focusing on baobabs. In July 2021, she was granted the title of Doctor in Biology .
The postdoctoral researcher also partook in most field trips within or outside Romania. She is a co-author of all 4 published papers and of the AMS-15 conference presentation.
Conclusions
The information
presented above shows that the objectives mentioned in the unique phase of the
Project Implementation Plan for 2021 were fulfilled.
Additionally, all
envisaged results were obtained.