In the context of natural selection, "variations" refer to the differences in physical, behavioral, or physiological traits among individuals within a population. These variations can arise due to genetic mutations, recombination during reproduction, and environmental influences.
Natural selection is the process by which certain traits become more or less common in a population based on their effects on the individuals' ability to survive and reproduce in a given environment. Variations that confer an advantage—such as better camouflage, increased speed, or resistance to disease—tend to be favored, allowing individuals with those traits to survive longer and produce more offspring. Over time, this can lead to evolutionary changes in the population, as advantageous variations are passed on to future generations.