Final answer:
Variation is beneficial for a species because it allows individuals to adapt and survive in changing environments. Sexual reproduction benefits the population but can be detrimental to individual offspring.
Step-by-step explanation:
Variation is beneficial for a species because it allows individuals to adapt and survive in changing environments. Different individuals within a species may have genetic differences that make them better suited to new conditions. These individuals are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their favorable traits to the next generation. For example, if a population of animals moves to a light-colored environment, individuals with a mutation for lighter skin color will be better camouflaged and have an advantage.
However, this variation may not always be beneficial for the individual. Sexual reproduction, which introduces new genetic combinations, is beneficial for the overall population, but it can be detrimental to individual offspring. This is because the offspring may inherit unfavorable traits or a combination of genes that are not well-suited to the environment.