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Bedrock vadose zone water storage (i.e., rock moisture) dynamics are rarely observed but potentially key to understanding drought responses. Exploiting a borehole network at a Mediterranean blue oak savanna site—Rancho Venada—we document how water storage capacity in deeply weathered bedrock profiles regulates woody plant water availability and groundwater recharge. The site is in the Northern California Coast Range within steeply dipping turbidites. In a wet year (water year 2019; 647 mm of precipitation), rock moisture was quickly replenished to a characteristic storage capacity, recharging groundwater that emerged at springs to generate streamflow. In the subsequent rainless summer growing season, rock moisture was depleted by about 93 mm. In two drought years that followed (212 and 121 mm of precipitation) the total amount of rock moisture gained each winter was about 54 and 20 mm, respectively, and declines were documented exceeding these amounts, resulting in progressively lower rock moisture content. Oaks, which are rooted into bedrock, demonstrated signs of water stress in drought, including reduced transpiration rates and extremely low water potentials. In the 2020–2021 drought, precipitation did not exceed storage capacity, resulting in variable belowground water storage, increased plant water stress, and no recharge or runoff. Rock moisture deficits (rather than soil moisture deficits) explain these responses. Plain Language Summary: When rainfall is lower than normal, water stored belowground can sustain forests and drain to streams. Does the presence of deep, dynamic water storage in bedrock below soil provide enhanced drought resilience? We used a network of deep boreholes drilled into hillslopes to study how the weathered bedrock unsaturated zone acts as a water source for woody vegetation and mediates groundwater recharge. At our winter‐wet, summer‐dry oak savanna field site in the Northern California Coast Range, dry season reductions in rock moisture were driven by woody plant water use. However, the water storage capacity of the subsurface exceeded net precipitation inputs in dry winters. Thus, deep water storage was not replenished during an extreme drought to the same degree as in wetter years, resulting in decreased groundwater recharge and streamflow, and lower water availability for trees—even those deeply rooted in the bedrock. Trees using bedrock‐water exhibited dieback in the second year of the hot, dry 2020–2021 drought. These findings motivate expanded study of how moisture storage properties of deep bedrock influence the susceptibility of vegetation to drought over multiple years. Key Points: Multi‐year field study reveals role of deep bedrock moisture within hillslopesLarge deep storage capacity relative to precipitation in dry years drives variable interannual storageDrought reduced rock moisture replenishment, groundwater recharge, streamflow, and blue oak water potential, transpiration and leaf area [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Sagebrush ( Artemisia spp.) communities are ecologically critical; however, these areas currently face severe threats from alteration and reduction. Pygmy rabbits Brachylagus idahoensis are sagebrush specialists that occupy the intermountain region of the USA. Little is known concerning how fragmentation of sagebrush and an increase in habitat edge may impact pygmy rabbits. From 2004 to 2009 in Utah, USA, we tested hypotheses concerning the influences of habitat edge on pygmy rabbits. We quantified the number of active pygmy rabbit burrows in relation to distance from habitat edge. At differing distances from habitat edge, we also deployed remote cameras at burrows and counted fecal pellets to document potential increases in the number of terrestrial predators and competitors. We classified activity of 528 burrows (284 active and 244 inactive). The proportion of active burrows was lower within 100 m of habitat edge ( r=0.502, P=0.02) compared with burrows located in control areas (>100 m from habitat edge). Photographs of pygmy rabbits decreased at burrows closer to habitat edge ( P<0.01). Photographs of predators increased near habitat edge, but was marginally insignificant ( P=0.07), and photographs of potential competitors [cottontail ( Sylvilagus spp.), P<0.01; jackrabbit Lepus californicus, P<0.01] increased near habitat edge. Fecal pellet plots supported these patterns. Our results indicated that the proportion of active burrows and the relative abundance of pygmy rabbits were reduced near habitat edge. This reduction was associated with an increase in terrestrial predators and competitors near habitat edge. Consideration should be given to the influence of habitat edge on pygmy rabbits in order to conserve and manage this unique species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Males and females of most dimorphic ruminants segregate outside the mating season, which may necessitate that conservation efforts focus on differential resources used by the sexes. Dimorphic bighorn sheep Ovis canadensis are one of the rarest ungulates in North America with some populations listed as endangered. Water sources are important for the persistence of populations of bighorns, especially in a changing climate. Understanding whether the sexes use different water sources could influence the conservation of this species and the habitats they occupy; however, little research exists regarding this important topic. We tested hypotheses relating to use of water sources by reintroduced male and female bighorns in Utah, USA. We investigated whether use of this resource differed across seasons by sex, and if sexes used water more during drought compared with non-drought conditions. Bighorns used small, adjacent core areas during segregation, and males and females used different sources of water during that time. Males visited water sources used by females more during aggregation. Males and females used water sources more in summer, and males visited water sources more during rut than did females. Males and females did not use water sources more during drought compared with non-drought conditions; however, sexes visited water sources more during the season following drought than following non-drought conditions, indicating a time-lag in use of this resource. Our results highlight the importance of water sources used by sexes of bighorns, and indicate that the existing criterion for distance of bighorn reintroductions from water may be inadequate for successful establishment of populations. We recommend conservationists assess availability of water sources near habitat used by male and female ungulates before conserving and manipulating habitat, siting artificial sources of water and reintroducing animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey of 92 vineyards, representing 10 winegrowing regions in south-eastern Australia, soon after exposure to a severe heatwave, revealed variation in the reported heat-related impact. This variation was observed between regions, within regions and within vineyards. Notably the estimates of losses were not always related to the amount of heat above a certain threshold but to the management practices employed in the lead-up and through the event. Applicable and achievable recommendations for managing severe heat events have resulted from this assessment. We believe this method of capturing information from the diverse knowledge-base of managers is a very effective way to reveal potential adaptive capacity to a changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employment taxes have become more complicated over time, and too much of an administrative burden is now placed on employers, especially smaller ones. Combining PAYE and NIC has the potential for big simplification of the system. My basic thesis is that circumstances have changed dramatically, and so must the system, because all is not well in the employment taxes area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Three blocks of Chardonnay in one vineyard in the Buckland Valley of Victoria, Australia, were surveyed over 4 years for grapevine yellows disease (GYd). Buckland Valley grapevine yellows phytoplasma (BVGYp) was the only phytoplasma detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis in GYd affected grapevines. GYd affected many grapevines and was characterized by remission of disease, some recurrence and occurrences in previously unaffected grapevines. A regional survey of the Buckland Valley indicated that both GYd and BVGYp occurred in the same restricted grape growing area. Within this area, BVGYp was detected in two vineyards that had been established using planting material from different sources. One could therefore speculate that BVGYp was present in these grapevines as a result of aerial transmission and was not present in the original planting material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]