FEATURED PAPER Combining genetic and ecological data to assess the conservation status of the endangered Ethiopian walia ibex B. Gebremedhin 1,2 , G. F. Ficetola 2,3 , S. Naderi 2,4 , H.-R. Rezaei 2,5 , C. Maudet 2 , D. Rioux 2 , G. Luikart 6,7 , Ø. Flagstad 8 , W. Thuiller 2 & P. Taberlet 2 1 Animal Genetic Resource Department, Institute of Biodiversity Conservation, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2 Laboratoire d’Ecologie Alpine, CNRS UMR 5553, Universit ´ e Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France 3 Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy 4 Natural Resources Faculty, University of Guilan, Guilan, Iran 5 Environmental Sciences Department, Gorgan University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran 6 Centro de Investigac ¸a ˜ o em Biodiversidade e Recursos Gen ´ eticos (CIBIO-UP), Universidade do Porto, Vaira ˜ o, Portugal 7 Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA 8 Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, 7485 Trondheim, Norway Keywords conservation unit; demography; genetic diversity; microsatellites; mitochondrial DNA; Y-chromosome; noninvasive sampling; phylogeny; population decline; realized niche. Correspondence Berihun Gebremedhin, Institute of Biodiversity Conservation, PO Box 30726, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Email: berihungm@yahoo.com; berihungm@ibc-et.org Received 10 October 2008; accepted 30 December 2008 doi:10.1111/j.1469-1795.2009.00238.x Abstract Knowledge about the phylogenetic history, genetic variation and ecological require- ments of a species is important for its conservation and management. Unfortunately, for many species this information is lacking. Here we use multiple approaches (phylogenetics, population genetics and ecological modelling) to evaluate the evolu- tionary history and conservation status of Capra walie, an endangered flagship species of wild goat endemic to Ethiopia. The analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome b and Y- chromosome DNA sequences suggests that C. walie forms a monophyletic clade with Capra nubiana, but potentially has been isolated for up to 0.8 million years from this closely related species. Microsatellite DNA analyses show that C. walie has very low genetic variation (mean heterozygosity = 0.35) compared with other endangered mammals. This reduced variation likely derives from a prolonged demographic decline and small effective population size. Ecological niche modelling using the bioclimatic features of habitats occupied by C. walie, suggests ecological differences between C. walie and C. nubiana, and identifies the areas most suitable for future reintroductions of C. walie. The genetic and bioclimatic data suggest that C. walie is distinct and requires immediate conservation actions including genetic monitoring and reintroductions to establish independent populations. This study illustrates how combining noninvasive sampling along with genetic and ecological (bioclimatic) approaches can help assess conservation status of poorly known species. Introduction Ethiopia is renowned for its endemic fauna and flora, which arise from the vast extent and isolation of its highlands within the Afrotropical region (Stephens et al., 2001). These habitats host unique communities of species adapted to high altitudes, with remarkable levels of endemism (Kingdon, 1997). Over the last century, many of Ethiopia’s endemic species have been decimated by habitat loss and fragmenta- tion (Yalden et al., 1996; East, 1997). The critically endangered walia ibex Capra walie is the most southerly distributed taxon of its genus, confined to a small area (95 km 2 ) in the Simen Mountains (Fig. 1). The species occupies a narrow habitat niche and is vulnerable to human disruptions such as habitat loss, illegal hunting, disease and competition from livestock (Nievergelt, 1981). Historical data on species abundance and distribution are scarce. Surveys conducted in the last four decades estimate a population size of 150–400 individuals (Blower, 1970; Nie- vergelt, 1981; Hurni, 1986). Currently, the estimated total population size is about 450 animals (Simen Mountains National Park Office, pers. comm.). Endangered species often face multiple threats. Their conservation assessment and planning is therefore complex, and requires multiple approaches, including studies on demography, population genetics and ecological modelling. Unfortunately, this information is often hard to collect, and most studies focus only on a limited array of aspects. This lack of information is particularly relevant in tropical regions (Gardner, Barlow & Peres, 2007), where most threatened and endemic taxa are concentrated (Orme et al., 2005; Grenyer et al., 2006). Capra walie is a remarkable and charismatic example of this situation. Like other endangered species, C. walie faces Animal Conservation 12 (2009) 89–100 c  2009 The Authors. Journal compilation c  2009 The Zoological Society of London 89 Animal Conservation. Print ISSN 1367-9430