Abstract
Distribution patterns of planktonic foraminifera in four sediment cores from the Red Sea are studied. The most common species are Globigerinoides ruber, G. sacculifer, Globigerinella siphonifera and Orbulina universa, G. ruber and G. sacculifer show opposite trends of distribution in the sediment cores. Abundance of the foraminifera during the glacial periods suggests that the connection of the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean was not completely interrupted and the salinity conditions were not extreme.