Morpho-functional analysis of early macroscopic live: 3D reconstruction of the skeleton of extinct marine archaeocyathas by synchrotron X-ra

This project aims to determine the skeletal structures of extinct marine archaeocyaths, among Earth’s earliest hard-bodied animals, using synchrotron X-ray imaging. Traditional thin-section analysis and lab-scale tomography provide only partial 2D data, failing to produce representative 3D models due to low-density contrast. Synchrotron radiation enables high-resolution 3D reconstruction, revealing fine skeletal details. This data will validate computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models to understand water flow and archaeocyaths’ filtering system, key to their feeding and role as early reef-builders. Specimens come from the protected Geo-zone 158 in Boadella – La Salut de Terrades, studied via the Museum of Geology of the Seminary of Barcelona (MGSB) collection.