why is variation beneficial to the species but not necessarily for the individual
Answers
Answer:
The variation is important and beneficial for species as it allows a species to adapt to a changing environment.
For example, climate change can force a species to shift its range to poleward or to higher altitudes.
Only those who adopt the changes can survive in harsher conditions by adapting to the changes.
For an individual, the variation doesn't matter in most of the conditions.
Take the example of we humans, if a climate change happens, we can shed our clothes and our body will help us control the temperature, and if the environment gets colder, we can wear more clothes to protect us.
However, in conditions like any new virus or bacteria attack which is harmful to humans, our body has to adapt according to this scenario or we will perish.
:)
The species will become stronger when its induviduals' good traits become more popular and harmfull traits vanish. This means that the weakest individuals won't make it far, only the strongest. But this is the only way for the species to evolve and thrive.