Dynamic simulations of feeding and respiration of the early Cambrian periderm-bearing cnidarian polyps

• DOI: 10.7554/elife.90211.3
• Publication Date: 2024-07-09T15:53:48Z
• Authors: Yiheng Zhang; Xing Wang; Jian Han; Juyue Xiao; Yuanyuan Yong; Chiyang Yu; Ning Yue; Jie Sun; Kaiyue He; Wenjing Hao; Tao Zhang; Bin Wang; Deng Wang; Xiaoguang Yang
• Keywords: Calyx

Although fossil evidence suggests the existence of an early muscular system in ancient cnidarian jellyfish from Cambrian Kuanchuanpu biota ( ca. 535 Ma), south China, mechanisms underlying feeding and respiration are conjectural. Recently, polyp inside periderm olivooids was demonstrated to be a calyx-like structure, most likely bearing short tentacles bundles coronal muscles at edge calyx, thus presumably contributing respiration. Here, we simulate contraction expansion microscopic periderm-bearing olivooid Quadrapyrgites via fluid-structure interaction computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method investigate their respiratory activities. The simulations show that rate water inhalation by subumbrella is positively correlated with muscles, consistent previous hypothesis. dynamic also frequent inhalation/exhalation through expansion/contraction conducted represents ancestral patterns sedentary medusozoans predated rhythmic jet-propelled swimming modern jellyfish. Most importantly for these medusozoans, increase body size stronger capacity muscle may have been indispensable stepwise evolution active subsequent higher flow (or Reynolds number) environment.