Final answer:
In seasonal succession of open water, zooplankton populations peak in the spring due to the increased availability of phytoplankton, their primary food source.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to ecological phenomena that occur in aquatic ecosystems, specifically seasonal succession in open water. In this context, the correct event that occurs in seasonal succession in open water is zooplankton peaking in the spring. This increase in zooplankton population typically happens because of the availability of phytoplankton as a food source, which also tends to flourish in increasing sunlight exposure during the spring. The zooplankton feed on the phytoplankton, causing their population to rise significantly in this season.