Early Life History Research Articles

Extracting the truth through chemical analyses: Early life histories of Victorian-era dental patients in Aotearoa New Zealand.

There are few bioarcheological analyses of life experiences in colonial period Aotearoa New Zealand, despite this being a time of major adaptation and social change. In our study, early life histories are constructed from multi-isotope and enamel peptide analysis of permanent first molars associated with Victorian era dental practices operating between AD 1881 and 1905 in Invercargill. Chemical analyses of the teeth provide insight into the childhood feeding practices, diet, and mobility of the people who had their teeth extracted. Four permanent left mandibular first molars were analyzed from a cache of teeth discovered at the Leviathan Gift Depot site during excavations in 2019. The methods used were: (1) enamel peptide analysis to assess chromosomal sex; (2) bulk (δ13 Ccarbonate ) and incremental (δ13 Ccollagen and δ15 N) isotope analysis of dentin to assess childhood diet; and (3) strontium (87 Sr/86 Sr) and oxygen (δ18 O) isotope analysis of enamel to assess childhood residency. Two modern permanent first molars from known individuals were analyzed as controls. The archaeological teeth were from three chromosomal males and one female. The protein and whole diets were predominately based on C3 -plants and domestic animal products (meat and milk). A breastfeeding signal was only identified in one historic male. All individuals likely had childhood residences in Aotearoa. Unlike most bioarcheological studies that rely on the remains of the dead, the teeth analysed in this study were extracted from living people. We suggest that the dental patients were likely second or third generation colonists to Aotearoa, with fairly similar childhood diets. They were potentially lower-class individuals either living in, or passing through, the growing colonial center of Invercargill.

Impacts of artificial light at night on the early life history of two ecosystem engineers.

Sessile marine invertebrates play a vital role as ecosystem engineers and in benthic-pelagic coupling. Most benthic fauna develop through larval stages and the importance of natural light cycles for larval biology and ecology is long-established. Natural light-dark cycles regulate two of the largest ocean-scale processes that are fundamental to larvae's life cycle: the timing of broadcast spawning for successful fertilization and diel vertical migration for foraging and predator avoidance. Given the reliance on light and the ecological role of larvae, surprisingly little is known about the impacts of artificial light at night (ALAN) on the early life history of habitat-forming species. We quantified ALAN impacts on larval performance (survival, growth, development) of two cosmopolitan ecosystem engineers in temperate marine ecosystems, the mussel Mytilus edulis and the barnacle Austrominius modestus. Higher ALAN irradiance reduced survival in both species (57% and 13%, respectively). ALAN effects on development and growth were small overall, and different between species, time-points and parentage. Our results show that ALAN adversely affects larval survival and reiterates the importance of paternal influence on offspring performance. ALAN impacts on the early life stages of ecosystem engineering species have implications not only for population viability but also the ecological communities that these species support. This article is part of the theme issue 'Light pollution in complex ecological systems'.

Biotic influences on drift behaviour of larval white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)

AbstractDrift by larval white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) results in an ontological habitat shift during early life that may be influenced by changes in the trade‐off between mortality risk and growth potential. Despite the importance of early life history to recruitment and conservation, for many species, including white sturgeon, we have a limited understanding of the mechanistic drivers of drift. We tested if two biotic factors, conspecific density and timing of food availability during the yolksac larvae stage, influenced the timing of drift behaviour. We evaluated larval drift timing for yolksac larvae reared in laboratory mesocosms at two densities (10 or 20 larvae) and three feeding initiation times (before exogenous feeding, at the initiation of exogenous feeding, or starvation). We found that drift occurred at 13 days post‐hatch (dph) overall, 2 days after the shift from the yolksac stage to the feeding stage (11 dph at 14°C). The timing of food availability in the fed treatments did not affect the timing of larval drift, nor did the density of conspecifics. Starvation delayed drift timing by 2 days, to15 dph. This delay of drift from a habitat with no food availability may disadvantage starving larvae and reduce growth potential.

Life history reconstruction by dental enamel analysis of the medieval population (8th–10th Century AD) of Gevensleben (Lower Saxony, Germany)

Accentuated lines (AL) are microscopic bands or lines in tooth enamel that indicate disruptions in enamel formation, which can be caused by various environmental factors such as stress, illnesses, or malnutrition. These lines can provide valuable insight into timing and duration of these stressors. The Gevensleben site (Lower Saxony, Germany, 8th–10th Century AD) provides an opportunity to gain insight into the early life history of a rural medieval population. 27 permanent teeth from 10 individuals were cut into histological thin sections for quantitative analyses of the Daily Secretion Rate (DSR) and a chronology of Accentuated Lines (AL). In addition, analyses by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed that both tooth structure and composition of the dental enamel remained unchanged since burial. The comparison of the DSR with other populations during the Middle Ages enabled the classification of the Gevensleben population. The distribution of AL prevalence showed three periods with higher stress levels, with the first maximum at 7–10 months of age, followed by a second maximum at 32–38 months of age, and finally, a high stress prevalence at 98–106 months of age. These were attributed to developmental periods and external stress influences.

Ontogenetic and cohort estimates of tadpole survival for the threatened Betic midwife toad (Alytes dickhilleni) in two contrasting small waterbodies

Abstract Comprehensive knowledge on demographic parameters and early life history traits is essential for an effective amphibian management and conservation. Here, we assessed tadpole survival of Alytes dickhilleni in two contrasting small waterbodies (natural pool vs man-made drinking trough). For the first time in the genus Alytes, tadpole survival was quantified at ontogenetic and cohort level. Overall, low survival values were reported for both study sites, being values in the natural pool (0.16) twice than in the man-made drinking trough (0.07). Ontogenetic and cohort variation was congruent between both study sites, with survival rates decreasing in intermediate developmental stages, and highest values being observed in overwintering as compared to summer tadpoles. Owing to the ongoing decline in Alytes populations, these results can be particularly useful for informing future conservation schemes based on tadpole translocation or reintroduction from wild populations.

A new way to understand migration routes of oceanic squid (Ommastrephidae) from satellite data

AbstractVisible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Boat Detection (VBD) data have been widely used to study the patterns of fishing grounds and their linking to fishery targets, particularly species mainly caught by jiggers. In line with most species in the Ommastrephidae family, the population of Todarodes pacificus is made up of various splinter cohorts concerning the timing and location of hatching. Therefore, the satellite‐recorded fishing grounds consist of groups with complex age structures and different migration directions within cohorts. This study examined the age composition of harvestable stocks (age spectrum) of T. pacificus in the Japan Sea based on an early life history individual‐based model of T. pacificus and VBD data. Using the age spectrum, we analysed the relationship between fishery effort and the age of the target group. It was found that jiggers most prefer individuals around 310 ± 20 days. Furthermore, the correlation between ambient water temperature and fishing effort revealed that T. pacificus migrated to colder waters, reaching the coldest waters at 250 ± 7.5 days before moving back towards warmer waters. We discussed a possible way to use the age‐temperature relationship to analyse the flow of VBD distributions to record the movements related to the migration of the fishing target. The results show migration‐like trajectories, which are initially parallel to the isotherm, gradually deflect towards lower temperature sides over several months, sharply turn for about a month and then move back with a slight angle to the isotherms. The method provides a potential framework to improve our understanding of the active migration of oceanic squid.

Embryonic and Early Larval Development of the Pacific Razor Clam (Siliqua patula).

AbstractThe Pacific razor clam, Siliqua patula (Sugpiaq: Cingtaataq, Dixon, 1789), is vital to commercial, recreational, and subsistence fisheries across the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America. Despite the species' status as one of the most popular shellfish species harvested in the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia, and Alaska, its larval development has never been fully characterized. Generating a developmental times series, and describing development fully, is crucial for guiding targeted management, developing a mariculture strategy for the species, and providing a more pointed avenue for studies examining the response of S. patula to ocean change. This study presents the first photographic documentation of larval development in S. patula, including the timing of key transitions during embryogenesis and early larval development. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the larval shell forms via a concretion, a process typically documented in early gastropod development. This novel characterization is pertinent, as it conveys the need for the inclusion of alternative bivalve development processes, such as a concretion, in bivalve research. This study also compared development in S. patula to a global assortment of bivalve species, including two other members of the Pharidae family, determining that the timing to D-veliger and trochophore stages was similar to the majority of bivalves surveyed. While bivalve response to climate change is a topic of great interest, not all species of concern have undergone comprehensive developmental assessments, a requisite benchmark for designing climate change studies that examine early life history sensitivity to such changes. This research supports the use of comprehensive developmental studies as prerequisites for designing climate change experimentation, establishes the necessity of high-magnification and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy within developmental assessments, and provides information about the development of a cornerstone bivalve species.

Individual Pattern Response to CO2-Induced Acidification Stress in Haliotis rufescens Suggests Stage-Specific Acclimatization during Its Early Life History

The red abalone Haliotis rufescens is a pivotal marine resource in the context of worldwide abalone aquaculture. However, the species has been listed as critically endangered partly because of the life-history massive mortalities associated with habitat climate changes, including short- and long-term ocean acidification. Because abalone survival depends on its early life history success, figuring out its vulnerability to acidification is the first step to establishing culture management strategies. In the present study, red abalone embryos were reared under long-term CO2-induced acidification (pH 7.8 and 7.6) and evaluated. The impairment prevalence was assessed during their larval stages, considering the developmental success, growth and calcification. The result in the stage-specific disturbance suggests that the body abilities evaluated are at the expense of their development stages, of which the critical threshold is found under −0.4 pH units. Finally, the settlement was short-term stressed, displaying the opposite to that observed in the long-term acidification. Thus, the early life history interacts through multiple pathways that may also depend on the acidification challenge (i.e., short or long term). Understanding the tolerance limits and pathways of the stress response provides valuable insights for exploring the vulnerability of H. rufescens to ocean acidification.

Year-Round Spawning, Filial Cannibalism, and Embryonic and Larval Development of the Coral Reef Fish Orchid Dottyback, Pseudochromis fridmani

Aquaculture of marine ornamental fish could potentially reduce the fishing pressure on wild stocks by the global aquarium trade, but its expansion is often constrained by the limited understanding on the biology and early life history of candidate species. The orchid dottyback Pseudochromis fridmani is a valuable and popular marine ornamental fish, but scientific reports on its baseline biology, especially the egg filial cannibalistic behaviour, are scarce. The present study documented key aspects of reproductive biology and early ontogeny of P. fridmani in captivity, including reproductive behaviour, patterns of spawning and filial cannibalism throughout a 12-month period by seven pairs of brood fish, as well as the embryonic and larval development. The results showed that the captive spawning of the broodstock pairs generally occurred every 5–11 days, most commonly every 6–8 days, throughout a year. Despite feeding the brood fish to satiation throughout the data collection period, the average monthly rate of egg filial cannibalism reached 55 ± 37%, but the cannibalism frequency appeared to be pair-specific. The egg incubation duration was approximately 96 h at 27 ± 1 °C, and the development of embryos from cleavage, blastula, gastrula, and segmentation to the pharyngula stage is herein described in detail. The newly hatched P. fridmani larvae possessed important structures and organs for first feeding, including pigmented eyes, developed jaws, and a straight-tube gut. The 0 to 14 days post-hatching (DPH) period appeared to be an important larval stage, as P. fridmani larvae were observed to complete major changes in morphology, gut development, and phototactic behaviour by 14 DPH. Under the culture conditions of this study, the earliest transition to the juvenile stage was observed on 31 DPH, and the majority of fish became juveniles by 56 DPH. The results of this study inform baseline aquaculture production protocols and direct future research, particularly to reduce filial cannibalism through broodstock management and to improve larval culture through supporting the early ontogenetic development of P. fridmani. Additionally, these findings form a foundation for further studying the biology and ecology of P. fridmani in the wild.

Early life history traits of chub mackerel Scomber japonicus in the Oyashio water revealed by otolith microstructure

Early life history traits of chub mackerel Scomber japonicus in the Oyashio water revealed by otolith microstructure

Genetic Structure and Genetic Diversity of the Endemic Korean Aucha Perch, Coreoperca herzi (Centropomidae), in Korea.

The Korean endemic aucha perch, Coreoperca herzi, belongs to the family Centropomidae. Thus far, studies on C. herzi have focused on mitochondrial genomes, egg development, and early life history, while studies on their genetic diversity or genetic structure are lacking. We investigated these aspects in this study using mitochondrial DNA data. Haplotypes were divided into the Hangang River, Nakdonggang River, Geumgang River, and southwest region water system populations. A translocated population, the Yangyang Namdaechun Stream, was confirmed to have originated from the Hangang River water system population based on haplotype distribution and genetic structure results. The FST of the mitochondrial DNA indicated distinct genetic differentiation in the Hangang, Nakdonggang, Geumgang, and southwest regions. According to COI and analyses, the analysis of molecular variance revealed a higher variance in the four water system groups (98.41%) than in the southwest region water system versus the Hangang River water system (80.27%) groups. This study presents basic data for conservation by providing extensive information on the genetic diversity, genetic structure, and translocation population of C. herzi.

A new gelatinous host for pelagic fishes: First in situ record of an association between driftfishes (Stromateiformes, Ariommatidae) and nudibranchs (Mollusca, Phylliroidae).

We describe the first recorded association between fishes and nudibranchs in epipelagic waters. In situ observations and photographs of a juvenile spotted driftfish Ariomma regulus (Stromateiformes; Ariommatidae) swimming alongside the planktonic nudibranch Phylliroe lichtensteinii (Gastropoda; Phylliroidae) were made during blackwater scuba dives off Palm Beach, Florida, United States of America. In this paper, we describe this behavior, highlighting a previously undocumented zooplanktonic host used by fishes. This finding also demonstrates the importance of community science in advancing our understanding of the early life history of marine species.

Individual and population‐level variation in susceptibility to temperature in early life history stages of giant kelp

AbstractBecause foundation species create structure in a community, understanding their ecological and evolutionary responses to global change is critical for predicting the ecological and economic management of species and communities that rely on them. Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) is a globally distributed foundation species with seasonal fluctuations in abundance in response to local nutrient levels, storm intensity, and ocean temperatures. Here we examine genetic variation in individual and population‐level responses of early life history stages (zoospore settlement, survival, and gametogenesis) to increased temperatures to determine the potential for natural selection on temperature‐tolerant individuals that would allow adaptation to a changing climate. We collected fertile M. pyrifera sporophyll blades from three sites along the California coast (Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Monterey Bay) and induced zoospore release in the lab. Spores settled on microscope slides at three treatment temperatures (16, 20, and 22°C), matured for 21 days, and were imaged weekly to determine settlement, survival, and maturation success. On average, individuals from all sites showed lower rates of settlement and maturation in response to increasing temperature. However, the magnitude of the responses to temperature varied among populations. Survival tended to increase with temperature in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara populations but decreased with increasing temperature for the Monterey Bay population. We observed little genetic variation in temperature responses among individuals within sites, suggesting little scope for evolution within populations to increase the resilience of M. pyrifera populations to warming ocean temperatures and predicted declines in kelp abundance. Yet sufficient dispersal among populations could allow for adaptation of early life history traits among populations via evolutionary rescue of declining populations.

The yin and yang of self-regulation in developing vertebrates.

All living organisms are thermodynamic open systems constantly exchanging energy with the environment to maintain organization and structure. In a state of non-equilibrium they undergo a back and forth pattern of self-regulation and dysregulation in energy exchange. This state of dynamic non-equilibrium can be observed during vertebrate development in which high phenotypic variation and plasticity exists, especially in the presence of stressors. While investigations of the effects of stressors on mechanisms of self-regulation are usually measured by systemic changes (e.g. metabolic rate) between baseline (control) and stimulus (or stressor), real world stressors do not switch on and off in predictable patterns, rarely occur alone, and can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). In this short review, application of two processes underlying self-regulation and dysregulation are explored, 1) allostasis, stability through change or the processes underlying self-regulation and, 2) metastasis, instability through change or the processes underlying dysregulation, to understand the effects of environmental stressors on the energetics of fish early life history stages (embryos and larvae). In mammalian physiology, allostasis theory was developed to maximize the probability of survival under stress, while reducing or limiting somatic damage. Yet, allostatic responses have energetic costs. Multiple stress responses over time result in systemic somatic damage accompanied by a loss of resilience due to an inability to self-regulate. Allostatic costs and their systemic effects on neuroendocrine, metabolic, cardiovascular and immune systems are cumulative and understood for adults but not yet for earlier stages. Developing stages with greater challenges for allostatic self-regulation than older stages because of limited resources have higher growth rates, smaller aerobic scopes, elevated metabolic costs, tight energy budgets, and employ compensatory versus additive energy budgets. Along with high mortality, early stages are expected to exhibit decreased physiological resilience and increased vulnerability in response to stressors, but little examination of energetic strategies to preserve functional stability in the face of stressors exists. While dysregulation/metastatic processes are more difficult to document in development, they increase our understanding of how organisms exposed to chronic/multiple stressors may reach allostatic overload leading to either, 1) systemic dysfunction and/or death or possibly, 2) novel physiological adaptive states. Evaluation of factors driving the yin and yang of self-regulation and dysregulation will provide knowledge of factors triggering or retarding metastatic processes, thus identifying those that prevent or reduce their affects, important in a world undergoing rapid global change.

Chasing the fitness optimum: temporal variation in the genetic and environmental expression of life-history traits for a perennial plant.

The ability of plants to track shifting fitness optima is crucial within the context of global change, where increasing environmental extremes may have dramatic consequences for life history, fitness, and ultimately population persistence. However, tracking changing conditions relies on the relationship between genetic and environmental variance, where selection may favour plasticity, the evolution of genetic differences, or both depending on the spatial and temporal scale of environmental heterogeneity. Over three years, we compared the genetic and environmental components of phenological and life-history variation in a common environment for the spring perennial Geum triflorum. Populations were sourced from alvar habitats that exhibit extreme but predictable annual flood-desiccation cycles and prairie habitats that exhibit similar but less predictable variation in water availability. Heritability was generally higher for early life-history (emergence probability) relative to later life-history traits (total seed mass), indicating that traits associated with establishment are under stronger genetic control relative to later life-history fitness expressions, where plasticity may play a larger role. This pattern was particularly notable in seeds sourced from environmentally extreme but predictable alvar habitats relative to less predictable prairie environments. Fitness landscapes based on seed source origin, largely characterized by varying water availability and flower production, described selection as the degree of maladaptation of seed source environment relative to the prairie common garden environment. Plants from alvar populations were consistently closer to the fitness optimum across all years. Annually, the breadth of the fitness optimum expanded primarily along a moisture gradient, with inclusion of more populations onto the expanding optimum. These results highlight the importance of temporally and spatially varying selection in life-history evolution, indicating plasticity may become a primary mechanism needed to track fitness for later life-history events within perennial systems.

Is Chelidonichthys lucerna (Linnaeus, 1758) a Marine Estuarine-Dependent Fish? Insights from Saccular Otolith Microchemistry

Tub gurnard, Chelidonichthys lucerna (Linnaeus, 1758), is a Mediterranean-Atlantic benthic species usually captured as by-catch by Portuguese traditional fisheries and considered the most important commercial fish species of the family Triglidae. However, to date, little is known about its habitat residency and whether the species can be considered a marine estuarine-dependent fish. Otolith microchemistry has proven effective in providing information about fish movement patterns throughout different water salinities. In this study, core-to-edge transects of Sr:Ca in the fish saccular otoliths of 35 juveniles of C. lucerna captured in March 2007 by a scientific survey along the Portuguese coast were used to assess the species movement between brackish and marine waters. Data suggest that most individuals (97%) have an estuarine-dependent profile, with 63% showing a clear presence in marine waters during the early life history periods. Evidence of an estuarine residence throughout the fish life cycle was found in only 3% of individuals. Ba:Ca profiles did not reflect an inverse relationship with Sr:Ca salinity results but corroborated findings from other authors about the influence of upwelling processes and freshwater runoffs on Ba incorporation into the otoliths of coastal fish. Furthermore, the data also showed that C. lucerna can occupy and migrate among habitats with diverse salinity degrees, showing high environmental plasticity and adaptation.

The ontogeny-specific thermal sensitivity of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica

IntroductionThe rapid increase in sea-water temperatures and frequency of extreme thermal events have amplified the risk of functional extinction of Mediterranean species such as the endemic long-lived seagrass Posidonia oceanica. Because of the valuable ecological functions and ecosystem services the species provides, understanding the life-stage specific thermal vulnerability is crucial to accurately predict the consequences of current and future global climate change and to protect and conserve existing meadows.MethodsTo this end, here we report a study on the ontogeny-specific thermal sensitivity of important physiological functions (i.e. respiration and net production) of three different early life history stages of P. oceanica, namely seed, seedling (4-month-old individuals) and 16-month-old plantlet by measuring thermal performance curves (eleven temperatures treatments between 15-36°C with n=8).ResultsAll three stages examined showed photosynthetic activity during light exposure with similar optimal temperatures for both net and gross production. Gross photosynthesis increased with rising temperature up to 28-30°C, subsequently declining at higher temperatures until complete inhibition at 36°C. The metabolic response of seeds was found to be temperature-dependent up to 26°C, while respiration of seedlings and plantlets was almost stable up to 28-30°C, but increased markedly at higher temperatures, resulting in a negative whole-plant C balance at temperatures above 32°C. Overall, our results show that seedlings and plantlets tolerate a wider temperature range (15 - 32°C) than seeds, which experience metabolic and physiological dysfunction from 26-28°C onwards.DiscussionThese findings suggest that the impact of warming on recruitment in P. oceanica meadows may vary depending on the timing of marine heatwaves (i.e. mid-spring to mid-autumn) and provide useful knowledge to inform restoration programs using early life stages of the species. In conclusion, the study of physiological responses during the early life stages of species is key to identify life history stages that are particularly vulnerable to climate change, which is vital knowledge for ecosystem management and conservation.

Intraspecific scaling and early life history determine the cost of free-flight in a large beetle (Batocera rufomaculata).

The scaling of the energetic cost of locomotion with body mass is well documented at the interspecific level. However, methodological restrictions limit our understanding of the scaling of flight metabolic rate (MR) in free-flying insects. This is particularly true at the intraspecific level, where variation in body mass and flight energetics may have direct consequences for the fitness of an individual. We applied a 13C stable isotope method to investigate the scaling of MR with body mass during free-flight in the beetle Batocera rufomaculata. This species exhibits large intraspecific variation in adult body mass as a consequence of the environmental conditions during larval growth. We show that the flight-MR scales with body mass to the power of 0.57, with smaller conspecifics possessing up to 2.3 fold higher mass-specific flight MR than larger ones. Whereas the scaling exponent of free-flight MR was found to be like that determined for tethered-flight, the energy expenditure during free-flight was more than 2.7 fold higher than for tethered-flight. The metabolic cost of flight should therefore be studied under free-flight conditions, a requirement now enabled by the 13C technique described herein for insect flight.

Validation of otolith daily ring deposition and hatch date estimations in larval and juvenile Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

The early life history traits of Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus, a commercially important species, have been well studied; however, daily ring formation in otoliths (lapilli and sagittae) of this species has not been investigated in detail. We examined the daily periodicity of ring deposition in otoliths using hatchery-reared Japanese flounder larvae and juveniles. In both lapilli and sagittae, a check corresponding to the radius at hatching (ca. 6 µm) was discernible throughout the pelagic larval and settled juvenile periods. The otolith rings were faint in the preflexion larval period and distinct in the flexion larval and later periods. Regression analyses for the number of rings by age in days showed that ring deposition occurred daily in lapilli but not in sagittae. Double marking of juveniles with alizarin complexone confirmed the daily ring periodicity in lapilli. However, the first faint ring was observed in the innermost areas in lapilli at 3–16 d post-hatching, and the faint rings were often unrecognisable, even under a scanning electron microscope, which interfered with daily age estimation. To estimate the number of days corresponding to the obscure zone with unrecognisable rings in lapilli, we developed the estimation method using logarithmic functions derived from the relationship between the radius (restricted to <20 µm) of lapilli and the ring counts for individual data. The error for the estimated days was − 0.05 ± 2.13 (n = 26, mean ± SD), indicating that this method is useful for hatch date estimation. Thus, the present study provides a novel method for analysis of otolith daily increments with unclear narrow rings in the innermost part of the otoliths.

Authoritarian Parenting in Early Young Children Life History Study Three Muslim Parents in Yogyakarta

&lt;p&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;Parenting is very influential in the development of a child. Appropriate parenting will have a positive impact on the growth and development of children both physically and psychologically. This research is motivated by facts in the field based on pre-observations that parents' parenting patterns tend to be authoritarian in early childhood . There were 3 parents met. Authoritarian parenting patterns are found when parents teach in terms of religious education, authoritarianism occured when they teach religious practice. This study aims to determine the factors behind the occurrence of parental authoritarian behavior. This research is a qualitative research with a life history approach that explores individual experiences and knowledge. The ecological theory of Urie Brofenbrenner, the theory of children's education in Islam according to Al-Ghazali, is used as an analytical tool. Based on these 2 theories, the tendency for authoritarian parenting is motivated by previous parenting experiences, and the environment (school and community). The findings and results of the research prove that 3 Muslim parents in the life history study have implemented authoritarian parenting styles for their children in the form of verbal violence (in the form of yelling and labeling children), limiting children from asking questions, rigid rules made unilaterally by parents, communication that tends to be one way and parents' impatience when accompanying children reciting and memorizing which leads to parental anger. Various factors behind the emergence of authoritarian parenting include, (1) parenting patterns obtained from previous parents (2) inappropriate methods of instilling religion (3) demands of schools based on religion, (4) competition between parents.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;Pola Asuh Otoriter pada Anak Usia Dini Kajian Sejarah Hidup Tiga Orang Tua Muslim di Yogyakarta. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;Pengasuhan adalah hal yang sangat berpengaruh pada perkembangan seorang anak. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;Pengasuhan yang tepat akan memberikan dampak yang positif bagi tumbuh kembang anak baik secara fisik maupun psikis. Penelitian ini dilatarbelakangi fakta di lapangan berdasar pra-observasi masih ditemukan pola pengasuhan orang tua yang cenderung otoriter pada anak usia dini. Orang tua yang ditemui berjumlah 3 orang. Pola pengasuhan otoriter ditemui saat orang tua mengajarkan dalam hal pendidikan agama, yaitu saat anak belajar sholat, mengaji dan hafalan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui faktor yang melatarbelakangi terjadinya perilaku otoriter orang tua. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan life history yang mengeksplorasi pengalaman dan pengetahuan individu. Teori ekologi Urie Brofenbrenner, teori pendidikan anak dalam Islam menurut Al-Ghazali dpakai sebagai pisau analisa. Berdasar 2 teori tersebut, kecenderungan pengasuhan otoriter dilatarbelakangi oleh pengalaman pengasuhan yang diperoleh sebelumnya, dan lingkungan (sekolah maupun masyarakat). Temuan dan hasil penelitian membuktikan bahwa 3 orang tua Muslim dalam kajian life history tersebut telah menerapkan pola asuh otoriter pada anak-anaknya dalam bentuk kekerasan verbal (yang berupa bentakan dan labeling pada anak), membatasi anak untuk bertanya, peraturan-peraturan kaku yang dibuat sepihak oleh orang tua, komunikasi yang cenderung satu arah dan ketidaksabaran orang tua saat mendampingi anak mengaji dan hafalan yang berujung pada kemarahan orang tua. Berbagai faktor yang melatarbelakangi munculnya pengasuhan otoriter antara lain, (1) pola asuh orang tua yang didapat dari orang tua sebelumnya (2) metode penanaman keagamaan yang kurang tepat (3) Tuntutan sekolah yang berbasis agama, (4) Persaingan antar orang tua.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;