Question

Why is variation beneficial to species but no necessarily for the individual?

Answer 1

Hint: The variation in species is important because it helps to establish more suitable progeny and adaptability of organisms in relation to the changing environment.

Complete answer:
- All the species occupy well defined spaces in the ecosystem. If any drastic change occurs in that niche, those species will either evolve or will be eliminated from that environment.

- The impact of that drastic change will be equal on every individual of that species, that is they may get evolved and get naturally selected for survival if the species have variations within the population.

- Some of the variants might be able to cope with the change, thus having an advantage for survival, but others will not thrive. Thus, the variants help in the survival of species. On the contrary, if we think that variation should occur at an individual's level then it is possible that during an unsuitable environment an individual may not be able to survive and its generation will depart.

- So, due to this the variation at species level is beneficial for evolution and survival but not necessarily for an individual.

Note: The variation will only happen in naturally selected organisms, thus the variation and natural selection is the basis of evolution.