Studies on selectivity and establishment of “Pelo de Oso” (Garveia franciscana) on metallic and non‐metallic materials submerged in Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela

Exotic marine organisms, Garveia Franciscana, called “Pelo de Oso” by the locals, were detected in Lake Maracaibo. “Pelo de Oso” constitutes one of the three components of the metal/biota/solution system that interact in Lake Maracaibo, producing biofouling and microbiological corrosion. The latter generates great economic problems, mainly: water‐pump failures. The objective of this paper was to determine the preference of these bioorganisms for materials, when immersed in Lake Maracaibo.