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Leigh Davis Biography

Leigh Davis is the Director of Leon County Parks and Recreation and has been serving in that capacity for the last 9 years.  Her public service career spans two and a half decades, and includes time with the FL House of Representatives, the Florida Association of Counties, and over 15 years with Leon County.

With the County she has served as Assistant to the Public Works Director, Assistant to the County Administrator, Interim Fleet Director, and now as the Director of Parks and Recreation.

Ms. Davis received her undergraduate from Auburn University and her master’s degree in public administration from Florida State University.

As you may or may not know, Leon County and the surrounding areas are some of the most biologically diverse in the country. These biodiverse ecosystems include several indicator species, those plants or animals that reflect the biotic or abiotic conditions of a given environment. These indicator species also help us identify specific ecosystems/natural communities. In addition, they can provide us with information on the impacts of pollutants and/or physical damage to an ecosystem and give us insight concerning how well an ecosystem is being managed or restored. One example of an animal indicator species is the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Dryobates borealis, typically found in mature pine forests with open understory maintained by frequent burning. One of the local areas where Red-cockaded Woodpeckers can be found is being managed by the Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy in northern Leon County. The pine forests have specific plant indicator species, such as Longleaf Pine ( Pinus palustris ), and Wiregrass ( Aristida stricta ). If Turkey Oak ( Quercus laevis ) is mixed in with the Longleaf Pine and Wiregrass, this is an indication that the soils are much drier, and you are likely in a sandhill ecosystem.

Mark will be reviewing many of the natural communities of Leon County with photos of their indicator species and discuss the public areas where these natural communities can be observed.

Mark Tancig Biography

Mark has been the Commercial & Residential Horticulture Extension Agent at the UF/IFAS Leon County Extension Office since 2016. In this role, Mark shares research-based best practices for sustainable landscape management with green-industry professionals and residential homeowners. Mark also coordinates the Leon County Master Gardener Volunteer Program.

Mark has lived in Tallahassee since 2003 and is originally from West Palm Beach. He enjoys living in Tallahassee with his wife, two kids, dogs, flock of chickens, and herd of worms.

Prior to joining UF/IFAS, Mark worked for Leon County’s Public Works Department for six years and Growth and Environmental Management Department for three years. His first job in Tallahassee was a Field Biologist with Florida Natural Areas Inventory.

Mark graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Botany in 2002 and is currently working on a master’s degree in Soil and Water Science at UF.

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