Mining intensifies connectivity vulnerability in a function-state-structure ecological security network on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau

Coordinating intensive mineral extraction with ecological sustainability in fragile mountain regions remains a critical challenge. On the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, where karst fragility, plateau lakes, and clustered mining activities intersect, apparent vegetation recovery may not coincide with ecosystem service recovery or network resilience. However, conventional ecological security pattern (ESP) workflows may insufficiently capture this mismatch because they often rely on static land-cover classes, greenness-dominated ecological indices, or single ecosystem service metrics. To address this gap, we developed a function–state–structure framework that integrates ecosystem service supply, terrestrial and aquatic ecological status, patch-level connectivity importance, and mining-modified resistance. A Comprehensive Ecological Index (CEI) was used to identify candidate source areas where ecosystem function and ecological condition coincided, while delta Probability of Connectivity (dPC) retained patches that were topologically indispensable to the regional network. A Mining Disturbance Index (MDI), derived from the current mining inventory, was embedded in the mining-sensitive resistance surface to diagnose extraction-related impedance to ecological flows. From 2001 to 2023, the mean CEI increased from 0.44 to 0.47, and the share of Good and Excellent ecological-quality classes remained close to 40% after 2013. This apparent improvement masked a growing structural vulnerability: ecological source patches increased from 119 to 166, but larger sources fragmented, barriers expanded after 2013, and connectivity became increasingly dependent on a small number of pinch points. Partial least-squares structural equation modelling further showed that human pressure strengthened its negative effect on CEI from −0.268 in 2001 to −0.437 in 2023, whereas climatic and topo-edaphic controls mainly defined the natural baseline. Local diagnostics revealed two mining-driven failure modes: direct severance of pinch points and formation of high-resistance mining matrices that force ecological flows to detour. These findings support a targeted spatial optimization strategy of “one ring, two wings, two belts, and multiple points,” offering an adaptable methodological reference and regional-scale evidence for coordinating ecological restoration and mineral-resource governance in fragile karst mountain regions.