SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: Functional morphology of the Cambrian archaeocyath sponge Yukonensis

Archaeocyaths are the first reef-building animals that appear in the Lower Cambrian and have a sponge-grade affinity. This dataset includes raw computational multiphysics data and 3D model reconstructions of the archaeocyath Yukonensis yukonensis, which constructed bowl-shaped protrusions known as ‘thorny corolla’. These calcium carbonate thorny corolla structures are composed of spines and, in some samples, a connecting membrane between spines. These files are supplemental to the paper "Functional morphology of the Cambrian archaeocyath sponge Yukonensis" that reconstructs this ancient organism's paleoecology using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and fluid-structure interaction (FSI) methods. All 3D reconstructions of Y. yukonensis were created on Autodesk Fusion 360 using measurements from published data and photographs. These files were imported to Autodesk Inventor Professional for export as Parasolid files (.x_b). Once exported, files were imported in COMSOL Multiphysics (version 6.2) for CFD and FSI simulations. Testing was conducted on a macro ('FullBody') scale using CFD and a micro ('Spine') scale using both CFD and FSI. This approach tests the movement of water at both scales and the micro-scale stress applied on the thorny corolla spines to assess rigidity. Overall, this study provides insight into the paleoecology of Y. yukonensis using CFD and FSI and its distinctive morphology.