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Abstract

In the here presented thesis, I investigate the possible progenitors of elliptical dwarf galaxies in the Virgo galaxy cluster. For the analysis of the galaxies of the late morphological type, a broadband data set in the u, g, r, i and z filters of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey was used. The photometric and structural properties (e.g. luminosity and radius) of the single morphological subclasses was compared with an existing data set of elliptical dwarf galaxies to explore the possible evolutionary connections. Within the sample, galaxies of the type "blue compact dwarf" - if the contribution of the starburst component is removed - show a remarkably good similarity to the elliptical dwarf galaxies. This agreement in the photometric properties could point to a possible evolutionary connection. The results of the photometry of the entire sample were used as input parameters for an evolutionary synthesis code, which simulates the undisturbed and disturbed evolution of the photometric parameters of the galaxies. By comparing the results of the simulation with the ones of the observations of today's elliptical dwarf galaxies, I am able to restrict the possible progenitors to certain morphological subclasses. In the course of this thesis, I was able to show that apart from "blue compact dwarf galaxies", also the prospective photometric properties of late-type spirals of the type Sd and Sm are in good agreement with today's elliptical dwarf galaxies.