Evolvability is the capacity to evolve, or the ability of a population to produce heritable phenotypic variation that can be acted on by natural selection. Robustness is the ability of a system to continue to function in the presence of errors or failures.
It is possible for an organism to be both evolvable and robust. For example, a population of bacteria might have a high mutation rate, which increases genetic variation, and also have a strong immune system, which helps it to survive and reproduce in a harsh environment. This population would be able to evolve quickly in response to changes in the environment, but it would also be able to withstand the challenges of the environment.
However, it is important to note that there can be a trade-off between evolvability and robustness. For example, a population of bacteria with a very high mutation rate might be able to evolve very quickly, but it might also be more likely to produce harmful mutations that decrease its chance of survival. Similarly, a population that is very robust might be less likely to evolve quickly, because it is less likely to experience the environmental challenges that would force it to adapt.
Therefore, the optimal balance between evolvability and robustness will vary depending on the environment. In a stable environment, a more robust population might be favored, while in a rapidly changing environment, a more evolvable population might be favored.
