The role of cold gas on the stellar mass - Metallicity relation of nearby galaxies

Abstract

We investigate the relationship between stellar mass, metallicity and gas content for a magnitude- and volume-limited sample of 260 nearby late-type galaxies in different environments. Combining new oxygen abundance measurements with ultraviolet to near-infrared photometry and Hi 21 cm line observations, we observe the relationship between stellar mass and metallicity. We also find that, at fixed stellar mass, galaxies with lower gas fractions typically possess higher oxygen abundances. Gas-poor galaxies are typically more metal-rich. Our results indicate that internal evolutionary processes, rather than environmental effects, play a key role in shaping the stellar mass-metallicity relation. © 2013 International Astronomical Union.