EMISSION-LINE GALAXIES IN THE SLICE OF THE UNIVERSE .2. THE DEEP CASESURVEY SAMPLE

We present an analysis of the spatial distribution for a complete samp le of galaxies cataloged in the first two lists of the Case Low-Disper sion Northern Sky Survey. This sample of 176 objects was selected for detailed follow-up investigation because it is located in fields which overlap the original Slice of the Universe survey of de Lapparent et al. We utilize the depth of the redshift sample of normal galaxies in this field to study the relative spatial distributions of the Case and SLICE galaxies. In this study we (i) investigate the role that galaxy -galaxy encounters might play in triggering star formation; (ii) asses s the utility of using emission-line/UV-excess selected galaxies to ma p out large-scale structures at high redshift; (iii) look for evidence of biasing in the spatial distribution of low-luminosity galaxies, wh ich are more readily detected in objective-prism surveys than in magni tude-limited surveys. We conclude that galaxy-galaxy encounters are no t the primary cause of star formation in the majority of the Case gala xies which tend to be more, not less, isolated than their nonactive co unterparts. This higher level of isolation is consistent with biasing in the spatial distribution of low-luminosity galaxies but is subtle e nough that emission-line galaxies can be used as effective tracers of the large-scale clustering of field galaxies.