Final answer:
Female gray tree frogs choose males with long calls because of the good genes they possess.Female gray tree frogs prefer males with long calls as it signals genetic fitness, ensuring better-quality offspring through mate selection.Option 4 is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Female gray tree frogs choose males with long calls because it indicates good genes for their offspring. Males with long calls demonstrate their genetic quality and attractiveness, making them more desirable to females. This preference for long calls is not about nutrient provision, ease of hearing, or trickery, but rather about selecting the best genetic material for the female's offspring.
In the mating dynamics of female gray tree frogs, the preference for males with long calls reflects a strategic choice for genetic quality in offspring. The length of a male's call serves as a reliable indicator of genetic fitness and overall attractiveness. This selection is not driven by immediate nutrient provision, auditory convenience, or deceptive tactics but rather stems from the female's evolutionary drive to secure superior genetic material for her offspring. Longer calls may signify greater genetic diversity or resistance to diseases, contributing to the offspring's overall fitness. Therefore, the female's inclination towards males with elongated calls underscores the intricate interplay between mate selection, genetic quality, and the reproductive success of the gray tree frog population.