The chemical evolution of the Galaxy: the importance of stars with an initial mass larger than 40 M⊙

Abstract In the present paper we investigate in how far stars with an initial mass larger than 40 M⊙ affect the chemical enrichment of the Galaxy. We illustrate the importance for chemical yields of a most up-to-date treatment of the various stellar wind mass loss episodes in stellar evolutionary codes and we discuss the effects of a possible supernova-like outburst prior to massive black hole formation.