SPECTROSCOPY OF H-II REGIONS IN M81 GROUP DWARF GALAXIES

We present nebular spectroscopy of H II regions in the M81 Group irreg ular galaxies M81dB, Ho I, and IC 2574. The empirical, or bright line, method is used to determine the oxygen abundances and ionization para meters. When the [O III] lambda 4363 line is detected, the directly ca lculated oxygen abundances agree with the empirical values within the uncertainties. The oxygen abundances are typically similar to 0.12 sol ar and are consistent with the log (O/H)-M(B) relation. Nitrogen abund ances are also normal for irregular galaxies.