The optimal growth rate, i.e. the one that maximizes fitness over a cycle of famine and feast, depends on the ratio of feast and famine periods. For long periods of feast interrupted by short periods of famine, E. coli the optimal strategy is to grow fast. For long periods of starvation intermitted by short periods of growth, the optimal strategy is long survival and slow growth. For the scenario of panel A and B, $\frac{T_{-}}{T_{+}} = 48$, the optimum is μ = 0.86 h − 1 and γ = 0.5 d − 1, see dashed line. 