r - How to define fixed aspect-ratio for scatter-plot

Question

I am plotting correlation coefficients (values = 0.0:1.0) for two isotopes measured in each individual from two populations. I would like to have a fixed aspect-ratio for my scatter-plot so that the x- and y-axis are exactly the same size no matter the graphics device. Suggestions?

This is my first plot in R, any comments on refinements to my code is appreciated? Finally, is it worth investing in learning the basic plotting techniques or should I jump right to ggplot2 or lattice?

My plot script:

## Create dataset
WW_corr <-
structure(list(South_N15 = c(0.7976495, 0.1796725, 0.5338347,
0.4103769, 0.7447027, 0.5080296, 0.7566544, 0.7432026, 0.8927161
), South_C13 = c(0.76706752, 0.02320767, 0.88429902, 0.36648357,
0.73840937, 0.0523504, 0.52145159, 0.50707858, 0.51874445), North_N15 = c(0.7483608,
0.4294148, 0.9283554, 0.8831571, 0.5056481, 0.1945943, 0.8492716,
0.5759033, 0.7483608), North_C13 = c(0.08114805, 0.47268136,
0.94975596, 0.06023815, 0.33652839, 0.53055943, 0.30228833, 0.8864435,
0.08114805)), .Names = c("South_N15", "South_C13", "North_N15",
"North_C13"), row.names = c(NA, -9L), class = "data.frame")

opar <- par()

## Plot results
par(oma = c(1, 0, 0, 0), mar = c(4, 5, 2, 2))           
plot(1,1,xlim=c(0:1.0), ylim=c(0:1.0), type="n", las=1, bty="n", main = NULL,
     ylab=expression(paste("Correlation Coefficient (r) for ", delta ^{15},"N ",
                     "u0028","u2030","u0029")),
     xlab=expression(paste("Correlation Coefficient (r) for ", delta ^{13},"C ",
                     "u0028","u2030","u0029")))

points(WW_corr$South_N15, WW_corr$South_C13, pch = 23, cex = 1.25, 
       bg ="antiquewhite4", col = "antiquewhite4")
points(WW_corr$North_N15, WW_corr$North_C13, pch = 15, cex = 1.25,
       bg ="black")
axis(1, at = seq(0, 1.0, by = 0.1), labels = F, tick = TRUE, tck = -0.01)
axis(2, at = seq(0, 1.0, by = 0.1), labels = F, tick = TRUE, tck = -0.01)
abline(h=.86, v=.86, col = "gray60", lty = 2)
legend("topleft", c("North", "South"), pch = c(15, 23), 
       col = c("black", "antiquewhite4"), pt.bg = c("black", "antiquewhite4"),
       horiz=TRUE, bty = "n")

par(opar)

Answer 1

par(pty="s")
plot(...)

sets the plot type to be square, which will do the job (I think) in your case because your x and y ranges are the same. Fairly well hidden option documented in ?par.