What does the deep taxonomic positioning imply about the Vireo griseus lineage's survival history?
The lineage has persisted through significant climatic shifts across eastern North America and the Caribbean basin
The taxonomic placement of *Vireo griseus* within the *Vireo* genus, considered basal or early diverging relative to some western species, suggests a long evolutionary history. This deep positioning implies that the lineage has successfully endured and adapted through numerous significant climatic shifts over vast timescales. These shifts include the dynamic changes affecting forest compositions across eastern North America and extending into the Caribbean basin. The persistence of this lineage across varied and dynamic environments over millennia points toward a successful history of adaptive plasticity rather than strict adherence to one specific climax forest type.
