Novel aerial sampling method to detect flowering Bambusa vulgaris (Schrad. ex J.C. Wendl.) in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies

Little to no records of Bambusa vulgaris (Schrad. ex J.C. Wendl.) flowering events have been published for Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. This paper aims to document past flowering events on these islands and to record environmental conditions surrounding an individual flowering event in north-west Trinidad. A novel systematic sampling approach using aerial surveys was adopted. An unmanned drone was used to establish a 500 m radial transect at the first flowering clump and this method was continued until no more flowering bamboo clumps/clusters were identified. Additional aerial surveys and site visits along major roads were also conducted to search for flowering clumps/clusters on both islands. Much research is still warranted (using similar methodologies and guidelines) to record environmental cues associated with B. vulgaris flowering on the islands as the present study was only able to provide a baseline for future studies.