What is one benefit of maintaining high levels of genetic diversity within a species?

Maintaining high levels of genetic diversity within a species significantly enhances its chances of survival in changing environments. Genetic diversity allows for a variety of traits within a population, which provides individuals with different capabilities to cope with challenges such as diseases, climate changes, and availability of resources. This variation equips the population with the necessary tools to adapt over time, making it more resilient and able to thrive under new conditions. When environmental pressures change, those individuals with traits that confer advantage are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on those beneficial traits to the next generation. In this way, high genetic diversity acts as a buffer against extinction and promotes a species' long-term survival.