Final answer:
Sexual reproduction can be detrimental to individual offspring, but it offers benefits at the population level, such as increased variation and conservation of resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sexual reproduction can be detrimental to an individual offspring due to the allocation of material and energy that could otherwise be used for the parent's survival. This diminishes the likelihood of the parent organism being perpetuated through time. However, at the population level, sexual reproduction is beneficial as it results in offspring with diverse phenotypes, enhancing the population's ability to survive in a changing environment. Additionally, sexual reproduction allows for the conservation of resources and reproduction only during optimal conditions.