Ecology
How many species of shrubs grow near Mount Rushmore?
Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore Brugmansia vulcanicola Construction of Mount Rushmore Destroying angel Dryandra Moth
Mount_Rushmore-Ecology Brugmansia_vulcanicola-Abstract Construction_of_Mount_Rushmore-Abstract Destroying_angel-Distribution_and_habitat Dryandra_Moth-Abstract
The flora and fauna of Mount Rushmore are similar to those of the rest of the Black Hills region of South Dakota. Birds including the turkey vulture, bald eagle, hawk, and meadowlark fly around Mount Rushmore, occasionally making nesting spots in the ledges of the mountain. Smaller birds, including songbirds, nuthatches, and woodpeckers, inhabit the surrounding pine forests. Terrestrial mammals include the mouse, least chipmunk, red squirrel, skunk, porcupine, raccoon, beaver, badger, coyote, bighorn sheep, bobcat, elk, mule deer, yellow-bellied marmot, and American bison. The striped chorus frog, western chorus frog, and northern leopard frog also inhabit the area. In addition, several species of snakes inhabit the region. Grizzly Bear Brook and Starling Basin Brook, the two streams in the memorial, support fish such as the longnose dace and the brook trout. Mountain goats are not indigenous to the area but can also be found here. They are descended from goats which were a gift from Canada to Custer State Park in 1924 but later escaped. At lower elevations, coniferous trees, mainly the Ponderosa pine, surround most of the monument, providing shade from the sun. Other trees include the bur oak, the Black Hills spruce, and the cottonwood. Nine species of shrubs grow near Mount Rushmore. There is also a wide variety of wildflowers, including especially the snapdragon, sunflower, and violet. Towards higher elevations, plant life becomes sparser. However, only approximately five percent of the plant species found in the Black Hills are indigenous to the region. The area receives about of precipitation on average per year, enough to support abundant animal and plant life. Trees and other plants help to control surface runoff. Dikes, seeps, and springs help to dam up water that is flowing downhill, providing watering spots for animals. In addition, stones like sandstone and limestone help to hold groundwater, creating aquifers. Through the study of tree rings, it has been determined that forest fires have occurred in the Ponderosa forests surrounding Mount Rushmore around every 27 years based on evidence of fire scars found within tree core samples. Large conflagrations are not common. Most events have been ground fires that serve to clear forest debris. The area is a climax community. Recent pine beetle infestations have threatened the forest.
Brugmansia vulcanicola is a South American species of Angel Trumpet that grow as shrubs or small trees. 
The construction of Mount Rushmore National Memorial took about 14 years, from 1927 to 1941. 
All "Amanita" species form ectomycorrhizal relationships with the roots of certain trees. Thus destroying angels grow in or near the edges of woodlands. They can also be found on lawns or grassy meadows near trees or shrubs. Several species called Destroying Angel are found all over the world. 
The Dryandra Moth ("Carthaea saturnioides") is a species of moth. It is considered the only species in the family Carthaeidae. Its closest relatives are the Saturniidae and it bears a resemblance to many species of that family, bearing prominent eye spots on all wings. As the common name suggests, the larva feeds on "Dryandra" and related shrubs such as "Banksia" and "Grevillea". The species is restricted to the south-west of Western Australia, where the "Dryandra" shrubs grow. 