Spectral analysis of the Stromlo-APM Survey - II. Galaxy luminosity function and clustering by spectral type

We study the luminosity function and clustering properties of subsamples of local galaxies selected from the Stromlo-APM Survey by the rest-frame equi valent widths of their H alpha and [O II] emission lines. The b(J) luminosi ty function of star-forming galaxies has a significantly steeper faint-end slope than that for quiescent galaxies: the majority of sub-L* galaxies are currently undergoing significant star formation. Emission-line galaxies ar e less strongly clustered, both amongst themselves and with the general gal axy population, than are quiescent galaxies. Thus as well as being less lum inous, star-forming galaxies also inhabit lower density regions of the Univ erse than quiescent galaxies.