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

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Age, Growth and Death of a National Icon: the Historic Chapman Baobab of Botswana Article Age, Growth and Death of a National Icon: The Historic Chapman Baobab of Botswana Adrian Patrut 1,* , Stephan Woodborne 2,3 , Roxana T. Patrut 1,4 , Grant Hall 3, Laszlo Rakosy 4, Christiaan Winterbach 5 and Karl F. von Reden 6 1 Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Babe¸s-BolyaiUniversity, 11 Arany Janos, RO-400028 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; [email protected] 2 iThemba LABS, Private Bag 11, WITS 2050, South Africa; [email protected] 3 Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa; [email protected] 4 Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babe¸s-BolyaiUniversity, 44 Republicii, RO-400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; [email protected] 5 Tau Consultants(Pty) Ltd., P/Bag 83, Maun, Botswana; [email protected] 6 NOSAMS Facility, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 6 October 2019; Accepted: 2 November 2019; Published: 5 November 2019 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. Keywords: Adansonia digitata L.; tropical trees; age determination; AMS radiocarbon dating; growth rate; multiple stems 1. Introduction According to recent research, populations of large old trees are rapidly declining in many parts of the world. This fact has serious implications on ecosystem integrity and biodiversity. The decline of large old trees is associated especially with the increasing frequency of severe droughts in many regions of the world as a result of climate change [1,2]. One of the most affected species is certainly the African baobab (Adansonia digitata L.). The African baobab is the best known and most widespread of the eight or nine Adansonia species [3,4]. The very large size of several specimens, which have massive swollen trunks, suggests this tree lives to an old age. According to our in-depth research on the African baobab, the oldest dated individuals have ages greater than 2000 year [5–8]. Large and old-looking baobabs are living natural monuments. Some of them are historic trees. Historic baobabs witnessed past events, were discovered and/or visited and described by early explorers or had special destinations in the past. Notable examples are Dorslandboom, Ombalantu, Okahao Forests 2019, 10, 983; doi:10.3390/f10110983 www.mdpi.com/journal/forests Forests 2019, 10, 983 2 of 11 (Namibia), Chapman, Green, Baines group, Kasane prison tree (Botswana), Big tree at Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe),Forests 2019 Leydsdorp, 10, x FOR PEER (South REVIEW Africa) and Gouye Ndiouly (Senegal). 2 of 11 ForestsThe most 2019, 10 famous, x FOR PEER of them, REVIEW the Chapman baobab (Figures1 and2), was located on the Missionary2 of 11 Road in theThe salt most pans famous of Centralof them, the Botswana Chapman and baobab was (F declaredigures 1 and a National 2), was located Monument. on the Missionary On January 7, The most famous of them, the Chapman baobab (Figures 1 and 2), was located on the Missionary Road in the salt pans of Central Botswana and was declared a National Monument. On January 7, 2016,Road the Chapman in the salt baobabpans of fellCentral unexpectedly. Botswana and The was sight declared of the a six National large stems Monument. of Chapman On January lying 7, on the 2016, the Chapman baobab fell unexpectedly. The sight of the six large stems of Chapman lying on ground2016, in the three Chapman different baobab directions fell unexpectedly. with roots The exposed sight of is the likely six large the most stems dramatic of Chapman in thelying history on of the ground in three different directions with roots exposed is likely the most dramatic in the history monumentalthe ground trees in three (Figures different3 and directions4). with roots exposed is likely the most dramatic in the history of monumental trees (Figures 3 and 4). of monumental trees (Figures 3 and 4). Figure 1. Main view of the Chapman baobab taken from the west (June 2015). The six stems are FigureFigure 1. Main 1. Main view view of of the the Chapman Chapman baobabbaobab taken fr fromom the the west west (June (June 2015). 2015). The Thesix stems six stems are are numbered (1–6). The cavity entrance is also shown (see arrow). numberednumbered (1–6). (1–6). The The cavity cavity entrance entrance is is alsoalso shown (see (see arrow). arrow). Figure 2. Another general view of the standing Chapman baobab taken from the east, with stem Figure 2. Another general view of the standing Chapman baobab taken from the east, with stem Figurenumbering. 2. Another general view of the standing Chapman baobab taken from the east, with numbering. stem numbering. Forests 2019, 10, 983 3 of 11 Forests 2019, 10, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 11 Forests 2019, 10, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 11 Figure 3. Dramatic photograph of the fallen Chapman baobab taken from stem 2, with stem FigureFigure 3. 3.Dramatic Dramatic photograph photograph of theof fallenthe fallen Chapman Chapman baobab baobab taken fromtaken stem from 2, withstem stem2, with numbering. stem numbering. The tree lies on the ground with unbroken stems and branches. Thenumbering. tree lies on The the tree ground lies on with the ground unbroken with stems unbroken and branches. stems and branches. Figure 4. View of the fallen baobab taken from the ground level, with stem numbering. FigureFigure 4. 4.View View ofof thethe fallenfallen baobabbaobab taken from th thee ground ground level, level, with with stem stem numbering. numbering. Here, we report our research on the age, growth and death of the Chapman baobab, based on Here,Here, we we report report our our research research on on the the age, age, growth growth and and death death of of the the Chapman Chapman baobab, baobab, based based on on our our field investigation and radiocarbon dating results. fieldour investigationfield investigation and radiocarbonand radiocarbon dating dating results. results. 2. Materials and Methods 2.2. Materials Materials and and Methods Methods 2.1. The Chapman Baobab and Its Area 2.1.2.1. The The Chapman Chapman Baobab Baobab andand ItsIts AreaArea The Chapman baobab was located close to Ntwetwe Pan of the large Makgadikgadi Pans of TheThe Chapman Chapman baobabbaobab waswas locatedlocated close to Ntwe Ntwetwetwe Pan Pan of of the the large large Makgadikgadi Makgadikgadi Pans Pans of of Central Botswana, in an area with a mean annual rainfall of around 450 mm. The GPS coordinates CentralCentral Botswana, Botswana, in in an an area area with with a meana mean annual annual rainfall rainfall of of around around 450 450 mm. mm. The The GPS GPS coordinates coordinates are are 20°29.404’S, 025°14.971’E and the altitude is 905 m. 20are29.404 20°29.404’S,S, 025 025°14.971’E14.971 E and and the the altitude altitude is 905is 905 m. m. ◦ The0 baobab◦ was 0named after the South African explorer and hunter James Chapman, who The baobab was named after the South African explorer and hunter James Chapman, who visitedThe baobabthe tree wason July named 10, 1852 after [9,10]. the South Recent African research explorer indicates and hunter that the James tree Chapman,had been previously who visited visited the tree on July 10, 1852 [9,10]. Recent research indicates that the tree had been previously thevisited tree on in July1849 10,by David 1852 [9 Livingstone,,10]. Recent th researche Scottish indicates missionary that and the explorer tree had [11]. been previously visited in 1849visited by David in 1849 Livingstone, by David Livingstone, the Scottish th missionarye Scottish missionary and explorer and [explorer11]. [11]. Forests 2019, 10, 983 4 of 11 Forests 2019, 10, x FOR PEER REVIEW 4 of 11 This mighty baobab, known locally as Xaugam (in Tsoa/Tshwa, “lion’s tail”), functioned as a navigationThis beaconmighty forbaobab, travellers known who locally crossed as Xaugam the salt pans.(in Tsoa/Tshwa, Many of them “lion’s camped tail”), under functioned the tree as anda carvednavigation inscriptions beacon for on travellers stems. The who cavity crossed in itsthe trunk salt pans. served Many as aof local them post camped office under for explorersthe tree and and travellerscarved inscriptions going north, on hoping stems. The that cavity other travellersin its trunk returning served as south a local would post office take thefor mailexplorers and postand it whentravellers arriving going home north, [10 ].hoping that other travellers returning south would take the mail and post it whenThe arriving maximum home height [10]. of the Chapman baobab was 22.6 m, the circumference at breast height (cbh) 25.90 mThe and maximum the overall height wood of volumethe Chapman 275 m 3baobab. It had was an open 22.6 m, ring-shaped the circumference structure at consisting breast height of six 3 partially(cbh) 25.90 fused m stemsand the of overall different wood dimensions.
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