76 
Fishery Bulletin 1 13(1) 
Ag 
...k 
1.0 1 .4 1 .8 
J I I I I L 
100 150 200 250 
J I I L 
13.4 13.7 14.0 
1..I I I I I, 
2.0 
1.8 
1.6 - 
1.4 - 
\2 
1.0 -k 
- 0.8 
0.3 
-0.7 
depth 
density 
_ 
- 0.8 
0.7 
- 0.8 
0.5 
- 0.4 
- 0.9 
0.41 0.43 0.45 
J I I I 
80 120 180 
i r i i i r 
13.4 13.7 14.0 
1 r 
2000 6000 
i i i i r 
5.5 6.5 7.5 8.5 
m 
- 200 
180 
160 
140 
120 
100 
- 80 
14.0 
- 13.9 
- 13.8 
- 13.7 
- 13.6 
- 13.5 
- 13.4 
8000 
6000 
4000 
- 2000 
8.5 
8.0 
7.5 
7.0 
6.5 
6.0 
5.5 
Figure S 
Pairs plot for all the explanatory variables in the data set used for this study of ( Merluccius merluccius) in 
the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. The upper diagonal panel shows the Pearson’s correlation coefficient, 
and the lower diagonal panel shows the scatterplots with a smoother added to visualize the pattern. The font 
size of the correlation coefficient is proportional to its estimated value. 
no evidence of effects exerted by oceanographic fea- 
tures were found. Atmospheric processes and oceano- 
graphic features instead played a role in determining 
variations in recruitment strength of European hake 
(Alvarez et al., 2001; Maynou et al., 2003; Olivar et 
ah, 2003; Abella et ah, 2008; Bartolino et ah, 2008a). 
Also, although Hidalgo et ah (2008) found spatial and 
temporal differences related to environmental and hy- 
drographical variables in recruitment processes and 
condition of European hake around Balearic Islands, 
they did not observe any differences in growth of this 
species. 
The observed positive effect of recruit density could 
be interpreted as an optimal density window where 
growth is maximized. Fast growth was observed for 
densities of around 3000 individuals km -2 , and growth 
remained slightly constant at higher densities. Still, 
recruit growth remained greater in areas of high den- 
sity of recruits than in areas with low density, which 
could correspond to habitats of low suitability, where 
