Re: paleonet non-green plants and Mistaken Point

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>I don't know if there are any instances of algae that can live non-photosynthetically (if there are I would be interested...) <

Algae more or less means photosynthetic protists, so it is somewhat moot whether one can speak of non-photosynthetic algae.  However, within the various clades that are generally thought of as algae, there are facultative and obligate heterotrophs.  Obligate heterotrophs may outnumber photosynthesizers among dinoflagellates, and many of the photosynthesizing ones can feed heterotrophically as well (which is one reason why photosymbiotic animals get rid of zooxanthellae under stress).  Molecular studies suggest that gain and loss of photosynthesis has happened many times.  However, I do not know of any complex, multicellular "algae" that do not photosynthesize.  

    Dr. David Campbell 
    Old Seashells 
    University of Alabama 
    Biodiversity & Systematics 
    Dept. Biological Sciences 
    Box 870345 
    Tuscaloosa, AL  35487 USA
    bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com

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