Populations of Dwarfs in Clusters of Galaxies: Environmental Connections

Abstract

Despite their apparent fragile appearance, dwarf spheroidals are the most common galaxy type in clusters. In this paper we consider some of the issues associated with two major models for the origin of these dwarfs: primeval galaxies which formed with the cluster and the modification of accreted systems. We argue that the present observational evidence, derived from the Virgo and Perseus clusters, points to infall as the origin of many of these objects.