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Alexandre, Anne (2025): Phytolith isotopes from West Africa (Benin and Senegal) [dataset]. PANGAEA, https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.986640 (DOI registration in progress), In: Alexandre, A (2025): Climate and triple oxygen isotope of precipitation, groundwater, soil water, plant water, and phytolith data from West Africa (Benin and Senegal) [dataset bundled publication]. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.984133

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Published: 2025-11-24

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Abstract:
Triple oxygen isotope composition of phytoliths extracted from grass stems and leaves collected at Belefoungou (BE, Benin), Nalohou (NA, Benin) and Dahra (DA, Senegal). Descriptors of the grass samples and phytolith concentration are presented. Atmospheric relative humidity and air temperature averages are calculated for the grass growing season. Phytolith-water fractionation coefficients are calculated for stem phytoliths. Observed and predicted values (using fractionation values from Dodd and Sharp, 2011 and Outrequin et al., 2021) can be compared.
Keyword(s):
phytolith; plant water; precipitation; soil water; triple oxygen isotopes; West Africa
Related to:
Alexandre, Anne; Outrequin, Clément; Vallet-Coulomb, Christine; Peugeot, Christophe; Grippa, Manuela; Aleman, Julie C; Voigt, Claudia; Landais, Amaëlle; Mougin, Eric; Ndiaye, Ousmane; Sonzogni, Corinne; Yang, David Au; Mazur, Jean-Charles; Couapel, Martine; Ogée, Jérôme; Ouani, Theodore; Afouda, Simon; Wubda, Maxime; Soumaguel, Nogmana; Houngnon, Alfred; Tagesson, Torbern; Fensholt, Rasmus (2025): What Does the Triple Isotopic Composition of Oxygen in Precipitation, Groundwater, Soil Water, Plant Water, and Phytoliths Reveal About Current and Past Hydrological Cycles? Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 130(10), e2024JG008615, https://doi.org/10.1029/2024JG008615
References:
Dodd, Justin P; Sharp, Zachary D (2010): A laser fluorination method for oxygen isotope analysis of biogenic silica and a new oxygen isotope calibration of modern diatoms in freshwater environments. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 74(4), 1381-1390, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2009.11.023
Outrequin, Clément; Alexandre, Anne; Vallet-Coulomb, Christine; Piel, Clément; Devidal, Sébastien; Landais, Amaëlle; Couapel, Martine; Mazur, Jean-Charles; Peugeot, Christophe; Pierre, Monique; Prié, Frédéric; Roy, Jacques; Sonzogni, Corinne; Voigt, Claudia (2021): The triple oxygen isotope composition of phytoliths, a new proxy of atmospheric relative humidity: controls of soil water isotope composition, temperature, CO 2 concentration and relative humidity. Climate of the Past, 17(5), 1881-1902, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-17-1881-2021
Funding:
Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR), grant/award no. ANR-17-CE01-0002: Past dynamic of continental atmospheric humidity and vegetation: new insights from the triple isotopic composition of oxygen (HUMI-17)
Coverage:
Median Latitude: 11.624000 * Median Longitude: -4.060667 * South-bound Latitude: 9.733000 * West-bound Longitude: -15.482000 * North-bound Latitude: 15.356000 * East-bound Longitude: 1.700000
Date/Time Start: 2018-04-04T00:00:00 * Date/Time End: 2028-12-08T00:00:00
Event(s):
Bellefoungou_met  * Latitude: 9.733000 * Longitude: 1.600000 * Location: Bellefoungou, Benin * Method/Device: Meteorological station * Comment: AMMA-CATCH Meteorological station
Dahra_met  * Latitude: 15.356000 * Longitude: -15.482000 * Location: Dahra, Senegal * Method/Device: Meteorological station * Comment: AMMA-CATCH Meteorological station
Nalohou_met  * Latitude: 9.783000 * Longitude: 1.700000 * Location: Nalohou, Benin * Method/Device: Meteorological station * Comment: AMMA-CATCH Meteorological station
Comment:
Soils and plants were collected in 4m2 fenced sampling plots a few meters from the meteorological stations
Parameter(s):
#NameShort NameUnitPrincipal InvestigatorMethod/DeviceComment
Event labelEventAlexandre, Anne
LocationLocationAlexandre, Anne
Vegetation typeVegetation typeAlexandre, AnneField survey
Sample code/labelSample labelAlexandre, Anne
DATE/TIMEDate/TimeAlexandre, AnneGeocode – Date
CommentCommentAlexandre, Annewhen no date defined
PeriodPeriodAlexandre, AnneField surveyEstimated growing period
TypeTypeAlexandre, AnneField surveySample type
SpeciesSpeciesAlexandre, AnneBotanical inventory
10 CommentCommentAlexandre, AnneField surveyGrowing vs senescent
11 Vegetation heightVeg hcmAlexandre, AnneField survey
12 PhytolithsPhytoliths%Alexandre, AnneChemical extractionPhytolith concentration (% dry weight)
13 PercentagePerc%Alexandre, AnneMicroscopy countingLong cell phytolith proportion LC
14 δ18O, phytolithδ'18O phytolith‰ SMOWAlexandre, AnneFluorination-IR laser-Isotope ratio mass spectrometryaverage, vs VSMOW
15 δ'18O, phytolithδ'18O phytolith‰ SMOWAlexandre, AnneFluorination-IR laser-Isotope ratio mass spectrometryaverage, vs VSMOW
16 δ'18O, phytolith, standard deviationδ'18O phytolith std dev±Alexandre, AnneFluorination-IR laser-Isotope ratio mass spectrometry
17 δ'17O, phytolithδ'17O phytolith‰ SMOWAlexandre, AnneFluorination-IR laser-Isotope ratio mass spectrometryaverage, vs VSMOW
18 δ'17O, phytolith, standard deviationδ'17O phytolith std dev±Alexandre, AnneFluorination-IR laser-Isotope ratio mass spectrometry
19 Oxygen-17 excess, phytolith17O xs phytolithper megAlexandre, AnneFluorination-IR laser-Isotope ratio mass spectrometryaverage
20 Oxygen-17 excess, phytolith, standard deviation17O xs phytolith std dev±Alexandre, AnneFluorination-IR laser-Isotope ratio mass spectrometry
21 Number of analysesN analyses#Alexandre, AnneFluorination-IR laser-Isotope ratio mass spectrometry
22 Humidity, relative, daily meanRH day m%Alexandre, AnneMeteorological station, AMMA-CATCHRainy season
23 Humidity, relative, daily meanRH day m%Alexandre, AnneCalculation using AMMA-CATCH metorological dataPhytolith production weighted-rainy season daily relative humidity
24 Temperature, air, daily meanTTT day m°CAlexandre, AnneCalculation using AMMA-CATCH metorological dataPhytolith production weighted-rainy season daily air temperature
25 Humidity, relative, daytime meanRH daytime m%Alexandre, AnneCalculation using AMMA-CATCH metorological dataRainy season
26 Humidity, relative, daytime meanRH daytime m%Alexandre, AnneCalculation using AMMA-CATCH metorological dataPhytolith production weighted-rainy season daytime relative humidity
27 Temperature, air, daytime meanTTT daytime m°CAlexandre, AnneCalculation using AMMA-CATCH metorological dataPhytolith production weighted-rainy season daytime air temperature
28 Temperature, leaf, daily meanT leaf day m°CAlexandre, AnneCalculation using AMMA-CATCH metorological dataPhytolith production weighted-rainy season daily leaf temperature
29 δ'18O, precipitationδ'18O precip‰ SMOWAlexandre, AnneCalculation using precipitation isotopesPhytolith production-weighted d'18Oprecipitation, vs VSMOW
30 δ'17O, precipitationδ'17O precip‰ SMOWAlexandre, AnneCalculation using precipitation isotopesPhytolith production-weighted d'17Oprecipitation, vs VSMOW
31 Oxygen-17 excess, precipitation17O xs precipper megAlexandre, AnneCalculation using precipitation isotopesPhytolith production-weighted 17O-excessprecipitation
32 Δδ'18OΔδ'18OAlexandre, AnneCalculation using phytolith and precipitation isotopesObserved D'18Ostem phytolith - precipitation
33 Δδ'17OΔδ'17OAlexandre, AnneCalculation using phytolith and precipitation isotopesObserved D'17Ostem phytolith - precipitation
34 Δ Oxygen-17 excessΔ17O xsper megAlexandre, AnneCalculation using phytolith and precipitation isotopesObserved D17O-excessphytolith - precipitation
35 Isotopic fractionationlambdaAlexandre, AnneCalculation using phytolith and precipitation isotopes(d'^17O_stem phytolith -d'^17 O_precipitation ) /(d'^17O_stem phytolith -d'^17O_precipitation )
36 Δδ'18OΔδ'18OAlexandre, AnneCalculation using phytolith and precipitation isotopesEstimated D'18Ostem phytolith - precipitation (‰)
37 Δδ'17OΔδ'17OAlexandre, AnneCalculation using phytolith and precipitation isotopesEstimated D'17O-excessphytolith - precipitation (‰)
Status:
Curation Level: Enhanced curation (CurationLevelC)
Size:
922 data points

Data

Download dataset as tab-delimited text — use the following character encoding:


Event

Location

Vegetation type
(Field survey)

Sample label

Date/Time
(Date)

Comment
(when no date defined)

Period
(Estimated growing period, Fie...)

Type
(Sample type, Field survey)

Species
(Botanical inventory)
10 
Comment
(Growing vs senescent, Field s...)
11 
Veg h [cm]
(Field survey)
12 
Phytoliths [%]
(Phytolith concentration (% dr...)
13 
Perc [%]
(Long cell phytolith proportio...)
14 
δ'18O phytolith [‰ SMOW]
(average, vs VSMOW, Fluorinati...)
15 
δ'18O phytolith [‰ SMOW]
(average, vs VSMOW, Fluorinati...)
16 
δ'18O phytolith std dev [±]
(Fluorination-IR laser-Isotope...)
17 
δ'17O phytolith [‰ SMOW]
(average, vs VSMOW, Fluorinati...)
18 
δ'17O phytolith std dev [±]
(Fluorination-IR laser-Isotope...)
19 
17O xs phytolith [per meg]
(average, Fluorination-IR lase...)
20 
17O xs phytolith std dev [±]
(Fluorination-IR laser-Isotope...)
21 
N analyses [#]
(Fluorination-IR laser-Isotope...)
22 
RH day m [%]
(Rainy season, Meteorological ...)
23 
RH day m [%]
(Phytolith production weighted...)
24 
TTT day m [°C]
(Phytolith production weighted...)
25 
RH daytime m [%]
(Rainy season, Calculation usi...)
26 
RH daytime m [%]
(Phytolith production weighted...)
27 
TTT daytime m [°C]
(Phytolith production weighted...)
28 
T leaf day m [°C]
(Phytolith production weighted...)
29 
δ'18O precip [‰ SMOW]
(Phytolith production-weighted...)
30 
δ'17O precip [‰ SMOW]
(Phytolith production-weighted...)
31 
17O xs precip [per meg]
(Phytolith production-weighted...)
32 
Δδ'18O []
(Observed D'18Ostem phytolith ...)
33 
Δδ'17O []
(Observed D'17Ostem phytolith ...)
34 
Δ17O xs [per meg]
(Observed D17O-excessphytolith...)
35 
lambda
((d'^17O_stem phytolith -d'^17...)
36 
Δδ'18O []
(Estimated D'18Ostem phytolith...)
37 
Δδ'17O []
(Estimated D'17O-excessphytoli...)
Bellefoungou_met Belefoungou (Benin)Dry forestBE-0404818-grass2018-04-042018/02/21-2018/04/13Whole grassn.aGrowing202.151136.6335.980.4118.770.20-22213359.760.928.253.754.530.330.230.19-181
Bellefoungou_metBelefoungou (Benin)Dry forestBE-190918-AndroG leaf2018-09-192018/02/21-2018/09/18Grass leafAndropogon gayanusGrowing905.871328.8328.430.2314.820.13-1938278.385.125.172.279.126.627.1-4.763-2.4912430.74-184
Bellefoungou_metBelefoungou (Benin)Dry forestBE-081218 AndroG leaf2028-12-08n.aGrass leafAndropogon gayanusGrowing205.141830.5430.0815.69-189136.26-218
Bellefoungou_metBelefoungou (Benin)Dry forestBE-200519 AndroG leaf2019-05-202019/03/20-2019/05/20Grass leafAndropogon gayanusGrowing201.981130.9230.4515.89-188166.871.728.459.864.530.330.4-3.096-1.6191630.17-181
Bellefoungou_metBelefoungou (Benin)Dry forestBE-140418 Grass2018-04-14GGS 2017Whole grassn.aSenescent208.532234.8434.250.8417.890.42-19115380.586.225.073.478.726.936.26-218
Bellefoungou_metBelefoungou (Benin)Dry forestBE-200519 AndroG sen leaf2019-05-20GS 2018Grass leafAndropogon gayanusSenescent901.30630.5030.050.5815.670.31-1925279.785.325.273.278.426.927.2-4.201-2.1972230.73-184
Bellefoungou_metBelefoungou (Benin)Dry forestBE-030123 AndroG, ImpC leaf2023-01-03n.a.Grass sheathAndropogon gayanus and Imperata cylindricaGrowing1002.0030.2829.8315.55-2001
Bellefoungou_metBelefoungou (Benin)Dry forestBE-030123 AndroG, Imp sheath2023-01-03n.a.Grass leafAndropogon gayanus, Imperata cylindricaGrowing1001.0533.9833.4117.40-2441
Bellefoungou_metBelefoungou (Benin)Dry forestBE-190918 AndroG stem2018-09-192018/02/23-2018/09/18Grass stemAndropogon gayanusGrowing902.0027.7427.360.3614.270.16-17213278.385.025.172.279.126.627.1-4.763-2.4912432.1216.76-1960.52230.74-184
Bellefoungou_metBelefoungou (Benin)Dry forestBE-081218 AndroG stem2018-12-08n.aGrass stemAndropogon gayanusGrowing208.2528.6128.2014.73-163136.26-218
Bellefoungou_metBelefoungou (Benin)Dry forestBE-081218 AndroG sen stem2018-12-08n.aGrass stemAndropogon gayanusSenescent904.0124.1223.8312.49-97136.26-218
Bellefoungou_metBelefoungou (Benin)Dry forestBE-200519 AndroG stem2019-05-202019/03/20-2019/05/19Grass stemAndropogon gayanusGrowing201.1929.1328.720.0815.020.04-1381266.871.728.459.864.530.330.4-3.096-1.6191631.8116.64-1530.52330.17-181
Bellefoungou_metBelefoungou (Benin)Dry forestBE-200519 AndroG sen stem2019-05-20GS 2018Grass stemAndropogon gayanusSenescent900.8529.8829.440.1215.380.05-16511279.685.325.273.078.426.927.2-4.201-2.1972233.6417.58-1870.52230.73-184
Bellefoungou_metBelefoungou (Benin)Dry forestBE-030123 AndroG, ImpC stem2023-01-03n.a.Grass stemAndropogon gayanus, Imperata cylindricaGrowing1000.1030.7816.07-1841
Nalohou_met Nalohou (Benin)SavannaNA-130418 AndroG leaf2018-04-132018/02/23-2018/04/13Grass leafAndropogon gayanusGrowing301.27237.4336.750.1219.180.07-2198253.053.828.047.548.129.930.030.23-181
Nalohou_metNalohou (Benin)SavannaNA-130418 HypI leaf2018-04-132018/02/23-2018/04/13Grass leafHyparrhenia involucrataGrowing302.91538.7337.990.5119.770.25-28811253.053.828.047.548.129.930.030.23-181
Nalohou_metNalohou (Benin)SavannaNA-170918 HypI leaf2018-09-172018/02/23-2018/09/17Grass leafHyparrhenia involucrataGrowing1505.74629.1728.750.0315.000.02-1825269.275.124.264.270.225.626.2-4.763-2.4912430.89-185
Nalohou_metNalohou (Benin)SavannaNA-061218 HypI leaf2018-12-06Grass leafHyparrhenia involucrataGrowing406.281531.5731.0816.20-215136.26-218
Nalohou_metNalohou (Benin)SavannaNA-190519 HypI sen leaf2018-05-192018/02/23-2018/11/08Grass leafHyparrhenia involucrataSenescent607.48931.1630.680.0116.030.01-1744269.975.324.264.170.025.726.2-4.201-2.1972230.90-185
Nalohou_metNalohou (Benin)SavannaNA-190519 Hyp.I leaf2018-05-192019/03/25-2019/05/19Grass leafHyparrhenia involucrataGrowing604.02933.9433.380.2117.390.11-2322259.763.027.754.658.029.229.7-3.096-1.6191630.28-182
Nalohou_metNalohou (Benin)SavannaNA-190519 AndroG leaf2018-05-192019/03/25-2019/05/19Grass leafAndropogon gayanusGrowing601.15634.2933.720.3117.600.16-2027359.763.027.754.658.029.229.7-3.096-1.6191630.28-182
Nalohou_metNalohou (Benin)SavannaNA-061218 HypI sen leaf2018-12-062018/02/23-2018/11/08Grass leafHyparrhenia involucrataSenescent1503.301231.2430.7716.10-147169.975.324.364.170.024.726.3-4.201-2.1972230.89-185
Nalohou_metNalohou (Benin)SavannaNA-190519 AndroG sen leaf2019-05-192018/02/23-2018/11/08Grass leafAndropogon gayanusSenescent1502.861732.6332.110.6316.730.32-22810269.975.324.364.170.024.726.3-4.201-2.1972230.89-185
Nalohou_metNalohou (Benin)SavannaNA-030123 AndroG, HypI2023-01-03Grass sheathAndropogon gayanus, Hyparrhenia involucrataGrowing1001.3534.3633.7817.60-231
Nalohou_metNalohou (Benin)SavannaNA-030123 AndroG, HypI2023-01-03Grass leafAndropogon gayanus, Hyparrhenia involucrataGrowing1001.4239.1338.3919.95-322
Nalohou_metNalohou (Benin)SavannaNA-170918 HypI stem2018-09-172018/02/23-2018/09/17Grass stemHyparrhenia involucrataGrowing1503.6826.9226.570.0713.900.04-1321269.275.124.264.270.225.626.2-4.602-2.4072331.1716.30-1550.52330.89-185
Nalohou_metNalohou (Benin)SavannaNA-061218 HypI stem2018-12-06Grass stemHyparrhenia involucrataGrowing404.2327.2226.8514.050.00-126136.26-218
Nalohou_metNalohou (Benin)SavannaNA-190519 HypI stem2019-05-192019/03/25-2019/05/19Grass stemHyparrhenia involucrataGrowing601.8529.6129.180.4515.240.23-17110259.763.027.754.658.029.229.7-3.096-1.6191632.2716.85-1870.52230.28-182
Nalohou_metNalohou (Benin)SavannaNA-190519 AndroG stem2019-05-192019/03/25-2019/05/19Grass stemAndropogon gayanusGrowing601.6430.3429.890.3415.590.19-19413259.763.027.754.658.029.229.7-3.096-1.6191632.9817.21-2100.52230.28-182
Nalohou_metNalohou (Benin)SavannaNA-061218 HypI sen stem2018-12-062018/02/23-2018/11/08Grass stemHyparrhenia involucrataSenescent1500.4326.8826.530.4713.880.25-1283269.975.324.364.170.024.726.3-4.201-2.1972230.7316.08-1490.52330.89-185
Nalohou_metNalohou (Benin)SavannaNA-190519 HypI sen stem2019-05-192018/02/23-2018/11/08Grass stemHyparrhenia involucrataSenescent1500.9228.4028.010.3614.620.19-1711269.975.324.364.170.024.726.3-4.201-2.1972232.2116.81-1930.52230.89-185
Nalohou_metNalohou (Benin)SavannaNA-190519 AndroG sen stem2019-05-192018/02/23-2018/11/08Grass stemAndropogon gayanusSenescent1502.8031.0930.620.1715.980.10-18210269.975.324.364.170.024.726.3-4.201-2.1972234.8218.18-2040.52230.89-185
Nalohou_metNalohou (Benin)SavannaNA-030123 AndroG, HypI2019-01-03Grass stemAndropogon gayanus and Hyparrhenia involucrataGrowing1000.4030.7016.05-158
Dahra_met Dahra (Senegal)SavannaDAB-240819 grass2019-08-242019/07/24-2019/08/24Grass leafDigitaria gayana, Cynodon dactylonGrowing50.161731.8231.3216.31-224158.961.029.251.553.730.931.2-4.500-2.3443230.03-180
Dahra_metDahra (Senegal)SavannaDAT-1119 grassNovember, 20192019/07/25-2019/10/31Grass leaf and stemAristida mutabilis, Cenchrus biflorus, Dactyloctenium aegyptiumSenescent601.03328.9328.5214.87-188164.768.328.756.860.130.630.7-5.277-2.7582930.12-181
Dahra_metDahra (Senegal)SavannaDAB-130921 grass2021-09-132021/06/26-2021/09/13Growing40628.4828.0814.62-200163.668.228.757.662.130.230.730.12-181
Dahra_metDahra (Senegal)SavannaDAT-130921 grass2021-09-132021/06/26-2021/09/13Growing40329.3428.9215.05-217163.668.228.757.662.130.230.730.12-181