Final answer:
Differences among individual members of the same species are known as variation. This variation enables the process of natural selection, which can result in adaptations, traits that enhance an organism's survival and reproduction in a particular environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Differences among individual members of the same species are referred to as variation. Variation is essential for the process of natural selection, which can lead to adaptation. Adaptation is a heritable trait that aids in the survival and reproduction of an organism within its environment. Natural selection operates when there is a differential in fitness among individuals, leading to certain advantageous traits becoming more common in the population over time.
For example, the variations in finch beaks, observed by Charles Darwin, allowed some finches to exploit different food sources more effectively than others. This led to adaptations in beak shapes that matched the food sources available, enhancing the birds' fitness and ability to reproduce in those niches.
It's important to note that while natural selection can lead to adaptation, variation is the raw material that makes this evolutionary process possible. Without variation, there would be no room for selection to favor one trait over another.