ON THE PROPERTIES OF GALAXIES IN GROUPS

We make use of the recently compiled catalog of groups of galaxies in the southern hemisphere to examine properties of galaxies in loose groups. Several statistical tests are applied to the data to evaluate the possible role of physical processes, which could influence the evolution of the individual members and explain the present-day structure of the galaxies. Among the properties examined are the relations morphology-density and morphology-velocity dispersion, the level of Hα emission, and the size of first-ranked galaxies. When selection effects in the observed sample are properly taken into account, we find no strong evidence that would indicate the presence of evolutionary processes expected to occur in virial equilibrium systems.