Galaxy groups in the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey:: galaxy spectral type segregation in groups

The behaviour of the relative fraction of galaxies with different spectral types in groups is analysed as a function of projected local galaxy density and the group-centric distance. The group sample was taken from the 2dF Group Galaxy Calatogue constructed by Merchan & Zandivarez. Our group sample was constrained to have a homogeneous virial mass distribution with redshift. Galaxies belonging to this group sample were selected in order to minimize possible biases, such as preferential selection of high-luminosity objects. We find a clear distinction between high virial mass groups (MV greater than or similar to 10(13.5) M.) and the less massive ones. While the massive groups show a significant dependence of the relative fraction of low star formation galaxies on local galaxy density and group-centric radius, groups with lower masses show no significant trends. We also cross-correlate our group subsample with the previously identified clusters, finding that this sample shows a very similar behaviour to that observed in the high virial mass group subsample.