The central region of the Fornax cluster III. Dwarf galaxies, globular clusters, and cD halo - are there interrelations?

In this paper we briefly review the properties of the du arf galaxy populat ion at the core of the Fornax cluster, as well as the properties of the ext raordinary rich globular cluster system and the cD halo around the central galaxy NGC 1399. In turn, the question whether a scenario in which dwarf ga laxies have been accreted and dissolved in the cluster center can explain t he observed properties is addressed. The possibility of accretion of a cert ain number of dwarf galaxies, the stripping of their globular clusters and gas, and the formation of new globular clusters from stripped infalling gas are discussed. An increase in the specific frequency of the central globul ar cluster system is only possible, if the infalling gas from stripped dwar fs formed globulars very efficiently and/or accreted and stripped dwarf gal axies possessed a rich globular cluster system themselves. In conclusion, w e argue that although the dwarf galaxy infall is a very attractive scenario to explain a number of properties in the system there are probably other p hysical mechanisms that also take place.