A review of the methods used to induce cancer in invertebrates to study its effects on the evolution of species and ecosystem functioning

Cancer is an understudied but important process in wildlife that predicted to have a significant effect on the evolution of metazoan species due negative effects host fitness. However, gaining understanding impact cancer and ecosystems currently relatively slow as development both animal models which can be induced experiments performed ecological setting are required. Invertebrates, because they widely available easy manipulate, promising models. In this review we examine how tumours invertebrates use them experimental study ecology species. We identified four main groups (planarian, bivalves, hydra drosophila) such inductions performed. then reviewed types effectiveness methods employed induce those groups. alters phenotype host. using invertebrate used investigate tumour-bearing individuals for their movement, reproduction, feeding behaviours, social interactions, holobiont predation risk. provide recommendations facilitate new also highlight series key questions could answered with