How does variation in a species enhance its survival?

Having variation within a species means that if the environment changes there may be individuals within the species more able to withstand the change and survive. ... it produces variation in the offspring. the species can adapt to new environments due to variation, which gives them a survival advantage.

Explanation:

parasites can detrimentally affect their host, but also must not allow their host to die before they can complete their life cycle. some parasites have complex life cycles with many different hosts, and have had to find ways of persisting in many different environments during the change from one host to another. ectoparasites live outside the body of the host, and can more easily  disperse, but are  more exposed to predators, parasites, parasitoids. endoparasites live inside the body of the host, and are therefore protected from the outside environment. but they can be  attacked by the host's immune system. they have therefore developed  mechanisms for dispersal such as  complex life cycles.