 Historically , the thousands of square miles that comprised the floodplain of the Missouri River supported a wide range of plant and animal species . Biodiversity generally increased proceeding downstream from the cold , subalpine headwaters in Montana to the temperate , moist climate of Missouri . Today , the river 's riparian zone consists primarily of cottonwoods , willows and sycamores , with several other types of trees such as maple and ash . Average tree height generally increases farther from the riverbanks for a limited distance , as land adjacent to the river is vulnerable to soil erosion during floods . Because of its large sediment concentrations , the Missouri does not support many aquatic invertebrates . However , the basin does support about 300 species of birds and 150 species of fish , some of which are endangered such as the pallid sturgeon . The Missouri 's aquatic and riparian habitats also support several species of mammals , such as minks , river otters , beavers , muskrats , and raccoons . 
 Historically , the thousands of square miles <a href='null_relcl' title='1'><mark>that</mark></a>comprised the floodplain of the Missouri River supported a wide range of plant and animal species . Biodiversity generally increased proceeding downstream from the cold , subalpine headwaters in Montana to the temperate , moist climate of Missouri . Today , the river <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>riparian zone <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>consists</mark></a> primarily of cottonwoods , willows and sycamores , with several other types of trees such as maple and ash . Average tree height generally <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>increases</mark></a> farther from the riverbanks for a limited distance , as land adjacent to the river <a href='drop_aux' title='5'><mark>is</mark></a>vulnerable to soil erosion during floods . Because of its large sediment concentrations , the Missouri <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>does</mark></a> not support many aquatic invertebrates . However , the basin <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>does</mark></a> support about 300 species of birds and 150 species of fish , some of which are endangered such as the pallid sturgeon . The Missouri <a href='null_genetive' title='8'><mark>'s</mark></a>aquatic and riparian habitats also support several species of mammals , such as minks , river otters , beavers , muskrats , and raccoons . 
Historically , the thousands of square miles comprised the floodplain of the Missouri River supported a wide range of plant and animal species . Biodiversity generally increased proceeding downstream from the cold , subalpine headwaters in Montana to da temperate , moist climate of Missouri . Today , the river  riparian zone consist primarily of cottonwoods , willows and sycamores , with several other types of trees such as maple and ash . Average tree height generally increase farther from the riverbanks for a limited distance , as land adjacent to the river vulnerable to soil erosion during floods . Because of its large sediment concentrations , the Missouri do not support many aquatic invertebrates . However , tdabasin do support about 300 species of birds and 150 species of fish , sum of which are endangered such as thdaallid sturgeon . The Missouri  aquatic and riparian habitats also support several species of mammals , such as minks , river otters , beavers , muskrats , and raccoons .