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S. Linder (INAOE, Puebla, Mexico)
Detecting the gaseous (and chemical) evolution of galaxies will require knowing how gas (and heavy elements) are distributed relative to galaxies at low redshifts. While galaxy selection strongly affects our ability to establish the connection between absorbers and galaxies (Linder, 2000, ApJ, 529, in press), I have developed indirect tests that should allow observers to distinguish between scenarios where absorbers arise in particular galaxies and scenarios where Ly\alpha absorbers arise in gas that traces the large scale galaxy distribution. Observations of weak metal line absorbers (associated with Ly\alpha forest absorbers) at low redshifts should be useful for constraining how metals are distributed relative to galaxies. Ferguson et al. (1998, AJ, 116, 673) have detected metallicities ~10% solar in the extreme outer regions of spiral galaxies. Adding metals to simulations of absorbing galaxies (Linder, 1998, ApJ, 495, 637) will allow for a test of whether such metallicities can be typical of the outer regions of most galaxies.
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