SPECTROSCOPIC MONITORING OF ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI FROM CTIO-I NGC-3227

The results of a five-month monitoring campaign on the Seyfert 1.5 gal axy NGC 3227 are presented. Variability was detected in the continuum and in the broad emission lines. Cross correlations of the 4200 Angstr om continuum light curve with the H beta and He II lambda 4686 emissio n-line light curves indicate delays of 18 +/- 5 and 16 +/- 2 days, res pectively, between the continuum variations and the response of the li nes. We apply a maximum entropy method to solve for the transfer funct ion that relates the H beta and He II lambda 4686 lines and 4200 Angst rom continuum variability and the result of this analysis suggests tha t there is a deficit of emission-line response due to gas along the li ne of sight to the continuum source for both lines. Using a composite off-nuclear spectrum, we synthesize the bulge stellar population, whic h is found to be mainly old (77% with age >10 Gyr) with a metallicity twice the solar value. The synthesis also yields an internal color exc ess E(B - V) approximate to 0.04. The mean contribution of the stellar population to the inner 5'' x 10'' spectra during the campaign was si milar to 40%.