Final answer:
The equilibrium of the Gray Whale's ecosystem can be disrupted by overfishing, climate change, species migration, and natural population cycles. Human impacts and climate change can cause a decline in diversity and alter the food web. These changes are complex and can have far-reaching effects on marine ecosystems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The equilibrium of an ecosystem can be disrupted by various factors such as overfishing, climate change, the migration of species, and cyclical population dynamics. In the case of the Gray Whale, disequilibrium may occur due to any of these disturbances.
Overfishing, for example, led to the collapse of the cod population (b), indicating that human activities can drive major changes in marine ecosystems. It is also possible that animals may migrate to new areas, as in c, or that they are simply experiencing natural fluctuations, as in d.
Ecosystems are sensitive to change and when species like the Gray Whale face pressures such as the loss of sea ice, they may be forced onto land to hunt, thus impacting the balance of the food web. Climate change and its non-linear, abrupt nature (substantial extinction reference) act as critical factors that lead to such disequilibrium. Disruptions can lead to a decline in diversity, as seen in the impacts of Parasites and Genetics in Marine Invertebrate Introductions.