Projective varieties covered by isotrivial families

Abstract

Let X,Y be projective schemes over a discrete valuation ring R, where Y is generically smooth and g:X \to Y a surjective R-morphism such that g_*\mathcal{O}_X = \mathcal{O}_Y. We show that if the family X \to Spec(R) is isotrivial, then the generic fiber of the family Y \to Spec(R) is isotrivial.

Final Version. To Appear in Proc. of Amer. Math. Soc