Keck spectroscopy of distant goods spheroidal galaxies: Downsizing in a hierarchical universe

We analyze the evolution of the fundamental plane for 141 field spheroidal galaxies in the redshift range 0.2 < z < 1.2, selected morphologically to a magnitude limit F850LP = 22.43 in the northern field of the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey. For massive galaxies, we find that the bulk of the star formation was completed prior to. However, for the lower mass galaxies, the luminosity-weighted ages are significantly younger. z p 2 The differential change in mass-to-light ratio correlates closely with rest-frame color, consistent with recent star formation and associated growth. Our data are consistent with mass rather than environment governing the overall growth, contrary to the expectations of hierarchical assembly. We discuss how feedback, conduction, and galaxy interactions may explain the downsizing trends seen within our large sample.