Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): the red fraction and radial
  distribution of satellite galaxies
  We investigate the properties of satellite galaxies that surround isolated
hosts within the redshift range 0.01 < z < 0.15, using data taken as part of
the Galaxy And Mass Assembly survey. Making use of isolation and satellite
criteria that take into account stellar mass estimates, we find 3514 isolated
galaxies of which 1426 host a total of 2998 satellites. Separating the red and
blue populations of satellites and hosts, using colour-mass diagrams, we
investigate the radial distribution of satellite galaxies and determine how the
red fraction of satellites varies as a function of satellite mass, host mass
and the projected distance from their host. Comparing the red fraction of
satellites to a control sample of small neighbours at greater projected radii,
we show that the increase in red fraction is primarily a function of host mass.
The satellite red fraction is about 0.2 higher than the control sample for
hosts with 11.0 < log M_* < 11.5, while the red fractions show no difference
for hosts with 10.0 < log M_* < 10.5. For the satellites of more massive hosts
the red fraction also increases as a function of decreasing projected distance.
Our results suggest that the likely main mechanism for the quenching of star
formation in satellites hosted by isolated galaxies is strangulation.
